  A new approach to the theory of polynomial solutions of q - difference
equations is proposed. The approach is based on the representation theory of
simple Lie algebras and their q - deformations and is presented here for
U_q(sl(n)). First a q - difference realization of U_q(sl(n)) in terms of
n(n-1)/2 commuting variables and depending on n-1 complex representation
parameters r_i, is constructed. From this realization lowest weight modules
(LWM) are obtained which are studied in detail for the case n=3 (the well known
n=2 case is also recovered). All reducible LWM are found and the polynomial
bases of their invariant irreducible subrepresentations are explicitly given.
This also gives a classification of the quasi-exactly solvable operators in the
present setting. The invariant subspaces are obtained as solutions of certain
invariant q - difference equations, i.e., these are kernels of invariant q -
difference operators, which are also explicitly given. Such operators were not
used until now in the theory of polynomial solutions. Finally the states in all
subrepresentations are depicted graphically via the so called Newton diagrams.
