Tripartite talks in jeopardy after Ramotar’s remarks

Demerara Waves – February 15, 2012

Leader of the Opposition David Granger says recent comments from President Donald Ramotar in which he accused the opposition of “criminal behaviour” have left the tripartite talks precariously poised.

Granger was addressing reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday (Feb 15), where he drew attention to an article in the Sunday Chronicle in which the president is reported accusing the opposition of pushing a racial line in Linden before elections, of manipulating the elections and negotiating in bad faith.

“Where does this put the tripartite talks? Several important aspects of the tripartite talks are not moving particularly the formulation of the national budget; up to February 15 we have not been able to have a meeting between Dr. Ashni Singh and the team from APNU and AFC to plan the national budget.

So a lot of things are still unsettled but when the president of this country starts to call the opposition charlatans and to announce publicly that he thinks we are behaving in bad faith, when he accuses us of manipulating the elections and when he accuses us of racism this is not the type of language that can build trust and I think that it will have an impact on the tripartite talks,” Granger said.  [Read more]

Also Read: Granger expresses dismay over Ramotar’s tirade

— Post #1115