There is still a role for the Social Partners now that the political dialogue between the two major political parties is back on track but they would have to redefine the focus of their efforts.
This seems to be the consensus among the group which is made up of representatives from the Private Sector Commission, the Trades Union Congress and the Guyana Bar Association.
An official of the Social Partners commended the recent developments but offered the view that it did not mean that the grouping could now sit back and relax. The Social Partners' initiative was originally focused on getting the political parties to create the environment that would help realise the objectives of Article 13 of the constitution concerning more inclusive governance. One of the menus of measures it had suggested was the implementation of the various constitutional measures resulting from the constitutional reform process, which they had felt would contribute to the creation of a climate of inclusiveness.
The official, who spoke to Stabroek News on the condition of anonymity, said that the grouping would have to look at re-focusing their efforts to monitoring the implementation of the constitutional measures.
In the discussion paper they circulated earlier this year the Social Partners indicated that the donor community had indicated an interest in funding such a mechanism and had suggested that its detailed list of all the issues to be addressed could be its programme of activities.
Sources close to the grouping tell Stabroek News that the body is still concerned that the agreements reached are mainly between the two parties even though they have made their decisions public. They contend that if the debacle that befell Jagdeo and Hoyte is to be avoided there would be need for some independent body to monitor implementation.
They say that among the initiatives the parties would be looking at is the conducting of an opinion poll that tracks the public's attitude to the developments in the country as there is a concern that the various committees and commissions being established may not have the required technical and other support necessary for the efficient discharge of their functions.
A PNCR spokesperson told Stabroek News that the Social Partners could now play a useful role in sensitising the public through their constituent organisations about the issues involved in inclusive governance, pointing out that the issue was not one only for the political parties but for all Guyanese.
The PNCR official said that there was no guarantee that the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional reform would give this issue consideration even though it comprises members from all the political parties. The official said too that the grouping might have to review its structure.
Sheila Holder, the GAP/ WPA parliamentarian, ex-pressing a personal view, said that while there was a role for the Social Partners that role should not be seeking to influence political change. For Holder, the Social Partners had to play an exemplary role so that it could hold the government accountable.
She argued that the conduct of the government reflected what was taking place in the society, as its conduct was based on an assessment that the society had little choice.
An official from the Office of the PPP/C's General Secretary told Stabroek News that his party would be always willing to address with civil society organisations, be they trade unions, religious bodies or the private sector, issues related to improving and returning the political environment to normality.
Since the September 11, 2002 consultations at the Le Meridien Pegasus at which they were mandated to expand their initial presentation of inclusive governance, the Social Partners, save for the aborted consultations to look at the crime situation, have been unable to get the political parties together to pursue its initiatives, despite expressions of support for their efforts. A meeting planned last month was derailed because of the President's preoccupation with addressing the collapse of the public utilities in Linden.