President Bharrat Jagdeo and Winston Murray of the opposition People's National Congress/REFROM (PNC/R) both acknowledged the need for realistic objectives in the dialogue process in order to bring about solutions to problems in society.

The two addressed participants of the Peace Education Institute Symposium which was held yesterday at the Muslim Youth Organisation on Woolford Avenue.

A number of civil society organisations with co-ordinating support from the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana planned the symposium to discuss the institute and other initiatives which would promote the culture of peace in Guyana.

The steering committee of the symposium stated that the growing conflict in Guyana indicated the need for open and constructive dialogue on initiatives to promote peace.

Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte had been scheduled to address the symposium along with President Jagdeo, but Murray said he had asked to be excused be-cause of a prior commitment.

President Jagdeo criticised civil society for its poor response to participating in the symposium, stating that it was only in times of political turmoil that the organisations were vocal.

He stated that civil society had an important role to play in the peace process and religious leaders should use their fora to get the message across to the masses.

According to him, it should not only be in times of civil disorder that civil society should preach peace-it should be a constant process.

"I hope that we will see a more vocal civil society," he stated.

President Jagdeo said that at the political level there were rules which should be obeyed but this was not always done.

"Anyone who says they are interested in peace but wants to follow anarchy and doesn't follow the rules... I sometimes question their sincerity," he said.

He emphasised that he was committed to the dialogue process because he felt it would be for the good of the country.

Former deputy prime minister and PNC/R executive, Murray, stated that President Jagdeo and Hoyte should be congratulated for starting the dialogue process.

He noted that in the past the modus operandi which had existed had been one of confrontation. Murray remarked that dialogue was not an end to all the problems facing the country but the people of Guyana wanted to see the process bearing results.

He pointed out that the dialogue was a gradual process which addressed the concerns of the people and note had to be taken that it took time to work out the solutions.

The process had a specific agenda, he said, but should go beyond this to include other areas which needed to be addressed.

The opening session of the symposium was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, political parties, and a few sections of civil society including religious leaders. Also addressing the participants were Dr Mike Scott of the University of Guyana and co-president of the Guyana Human Rights Association, Mike Mc Cormack.