In a statement yesterday, it also urged the resumption of the dialogue between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte but said it should be expanded to include all parties in Parliament and some elements of civil society.

The association in addition called for a broad-based inquiry into the events of July 3 in which two of the protesters were shot dead in the Office of the President complex, stores burnt and looted and citizens attacked and robbed.

The GMA condemned the "continued reprehensible and interpersonal attacks directed at the people of Guyana, both young and old, but on women in particular, who were stripped and robbed".

The statement followed the GMA statutory meeting Tuesday and said the group commended all decent people who went to the rescue of "those persons who were so brutally robbed and molested" on July 3.

"All of these acts of violence are simply criminal and speak to a new level of lawlessness, which is on the increase in our country," the GMA said.

It said there "is no possible justification for these acts of violence", adding that these "are not an acceptable response to real, or perceived acts of Government discrimination, corruption, extra judicial killings and other charges".

"These charges of injustice must be addressed in another form and at an appropriate forum," the GMA urged, pointing out that violence of this form serves only to undermine the legitimacy of such charges.

In this regard, the association is calling on the Government to establish a broad-based commission of enquiry into the events of Wednesday July 3, 2002.

"Our society of all races is traumatised and live in a state of fear; many more wish to migrate. Our businesses, especially manufacturers, already in decline and suffering losses are likely to close. The only area of growth here seems to be in security activity and even that may be in decline given the killings and targetting of security guards and Police personnel," the GMA said.

It said too, that "investors and investment - local and foreign are dwindling and foreign investors are afraid and apprehensive to invest in Guyana".

"How can any of this help our country, our people, the unemployed and the alleviation of poverty?"

The association said it expects President Jagdeo and the ruling party are prepared to honour the commitments they gave in the dialogue process.

It said it also trusts that the People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) led by Mr. Hoyte, "who has been recognised as a Statesman", will re-engage the process of having the dialogue.

"We wish to urge the resumption of the dialogue and it should now be expanded to include all parties in Parliament, as well as some elements of civil society - making it a national process," the GMA stated.

"We are confident that such an action will remove the previous disagreements on what was agreed and not agreed," the association added.

It also called on the political leadership to denounce these acts of violence and urged them to refrain from any actions which could lead to a further degeneration of the current situation.

"We urge the Government and the opposition to resume the high level dialogue without any conditionalities. This is a critical moment for all Guyanese.

"It would not be an overstatement to suggest that if we continue as we have done in the recent past, Guyana would be sunk permanently into 'the failed State' condition," the GMA asserted.

The association said it believes that nothing less than an all-inclusive forum can begin the process of peace and restoration in the society and has committed its human and other resources to this "peace and stability" process.

"Finally, we call on all Guyanese to raise their voices to act against this pervasive and frightening social disintegration and to commit to an individual and collective action and 'let peace reign'," the GMA said.