PPP urges signing of earlier crime communique draft

Stabroek News
December 18, 2002

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The PPP is accusing the PNCR of changing its stance on the draft communique on crime, which the Social Partners circulated on November 8 and which the PPP said reflected the inputs of all the Parties and the Social Partners.

It is urging the PNCR and the other political parties to return to the November 8 draft, which it says, "captured the perspectives of the Parties and the Social Partners for signing before December 31, 2002."

A Freedom House release on the issue says that its general secretary was ready to sign the document despite several reservations. "To our and the other parties' disappointment, the PNCR on November 11, 2002 suddenly submitted additional and substantial amendments to the (draft) communique. In many instances, these departed significantly from its earlier agreement and acceptance of the draft proposed by the Social Partners."

But PNCR general secretary, Oscar Clarke, rejects the PPP's position as trying to depict his party as the villain of the peace.

He told Stabroek News on Monday that the PNCR would only agree to a communique which was in the interest of the country and not what suits the PPP or the Social Partners.

He said that after the first draft presented to the PNCR by the Social Partners it had submitted its comments in writing. In relation to the draft communique, Clark describes the document as one "which had all the PPP's suggestions."

The United Force Leader, Manzoor Nadir says he had recommended to his executive that the party should sign the document as it included corrections, which it had suggested.

The Freedom House statement says, "That out of frustration with the PNCR backsliding and failure to support immediate forward movement, the Social Partners proposed a meeting of all parties. Not surprisingly, this did not change the PNCR's attitude to the early conclusion of the crime communique and (it) was recalcitrant on not agreeing to the earlier accepted draft."

The statement said that at the three meetings held with the Social Partners, they could testify to the eagerness and willingness of the PPP to support a practical document that would find favour with the other parties and the Social Partners who undertook the Initiative.

Nadir, speaking as a member of the Cabinet said that he had taken part in a number of meetings with the Social Partners and from that perspective agreed that the government demonstrated a willingness to sign a communique, which indicated, united action on crime as a confidence boosting measure for the public.

However, Desmond Trotman who was a member of the WPA team says that there were sticking points and until those were clarified his party would be unwilling to sign the document.

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