What was the Minister for Information of Guyana doing in the bedroom of Dublin's new Lord Mayor Joe Doyle in the Mansion House last Friday? Moses Nagamwotwo was here with 10 parliamentarians and trade union leaders to study the northern peace process under the auspices of the Washington-based National Democratic Institute and its political programme manager, former Fine Gael general secretary Ivan Doherty. Guyana, it appears, has a Northern Ireland-type problem.
The group called to Aras an Uachtarain and was most impressed with President Mary McAleese, at how relaxed she was and by her stories of growing up in Belfast and the intimidation of her family. They also received briefings from FG leader John Bruton, senior officials in Iveagh House, business people and trade unionists. At the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor told them they were his first official guests and as he and his family hadn't moved in yet the visitors might as well see the private quarters too.