President Ali wants recognition of govt, Opp Leader Harmon ready to meet

The President and Opposition Leader are still to meet on critical issues facing the country. Among them is the threat to Guyana’s sovereignty by neighbouring Venezuela. Recently, Guyana had reason to lodge a Protest Note with the Bolivarian Republic after two fighter jets were seen flying over Guyana’s territory.

When asked specifically about meeting with Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on this the border issue, President Irfaan Ali reiterated that the Leader of the Opposition needs to recognise his government as a legitimate one.

“I am saying to you now that the Leader of the Opposition needs to recognise the Government with the President and I don’t want no implicit recognition, he must go out there publicly and say, the government is legitimate and he recognises the Government, the president, and then let’s talk,” President Ali told the media on Thursday.

The President called on Harmon to “own up to his error,” as he said that the Leader of the Opposition continues to refer to the PPP/C government as illegitimate, “He [Harmon] has a responsibility to his supporters to come clean now, how long are you going to continue on this road, how long are you going to continue to deny yourself the truth and sell a narrative that is filled with such falsehood,” The President asked.

In a statement on Friday, the Leader of the Opposition said that he rejects the President’s demand that the opposition has to recognise the government, “This is an absurd proposition and a continuation of the intransigence of the PPP regime in absolutely refusing to engage in dialogue,” Harmon said, “I am, as I have been and as is well known, since being appointed Leader of the Opposition prepared to meet with President Ali in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guyanese people.”

Harmon said that the  constitution of Guyana does not set pre-conditions for consultation and dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposition as he said that he is prepared to meet “in the interest of meaningful dialogue and consultation” and with a view to advancing the interest of the people of Guyana.