In a press release yesterday, it said, "While concerns over the security situation are rightfully expressed, we must ensure that by our action or statements we do not contribute to the designs of certain groups to disrupt the economy and make the country ungovernable".

"It is clear that some politicians are opportunistically seeking to use the crime wave for their own agendas", it said.

The party said there must be an honest and fearless review of the crime situation and its contributing factors.

"To just blame the Government is most unfair and can be seen as a move to appease those groups, which have been less than supportive of the anti-crime drive," the PPP said.

"The PPP shares the deep concern of the business community and all Guyanese over the current crime situation. The loss of lives, theft and destruction of property and a climate of fear and insecurity impede progress and development of any nation," the release said.

The party noted that since the Mash Day jailbreak there has been an upsurge in crime, and said it has been supportive of the Government and law enforcement agencies in their fight against crime.

It has also welcomed the assurance by President Bharrat Jagdeo that the fight against crime is the number one priority of the Government.

"It must be noted that the party has repeatedly made calls for a national consensus on crime. This call was made in the context of the PNC/R's lack of unconditional support for the law enforcement agencies in the crime fighting activities and PNC/R elements' links with known criminals and other lawless individuals.

"There must be no excuse for not offering total and unequivocal national support for the Police in these conditions, " the PPP declared.

Meanwhile, the party said it would be meeting shortly with the Private Sector Commission, the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Trades Union Congress to discuss their paper `The Prevailing Security Environment'.