The PNC/R had, shortly before the second meeting called by the Social Partners, issued a Press Statement in which it remarked: "Of course the Communique will not, by itself help the crime situation. We are only too well aware in the PNC/R that the good faith of the PPP/C cannot be taken for granted after the conclusion of the negotiations."

Spokesman for the Social Partners, Dr. Peter DeGroot, when contacted about the PNC/R's comment on the crime communique, declined to comment. He however, emphasized that the function of the Social Partners was, in the main, to put confidence building in place, and not intended to address the social implications.

Information Liaison to the President and a member of the PPP/C team to the joint consultations, Mr. Robert Persaud, when asked to respond to the PNC/R's statement, disclosed that at the start of last Thursday's meeting, he read the comment to the meeting, presented a copy of the PNC/R's statement to the Social Partners and urged the meeting to take serious note of it.

"We believe, as well as others who are genuinely interested in the Social Partners' Initiative, that the PNC/R's comment was most unhelpful. The Social Partners have expended much time and resources in this effort; the political parties and their representatives have given very serious attention and a great part of their time to this ongoing initiative. There is seriousness about this effort.

"Let's hope the comment was only ill-considered, and was not intended to have any effect on the outcome of the meetings called by the Social Partners. If this is so, then the PNC/R, out of respect for the Social Partners and the other parties should consider withdrawing the statement," Persaud noted.

Meanwhile, the Social Partners, the Government and the Parliamentary political parties are to resume discussions on arriving at a consensus communique tomorrow at 3.00 p.m. in the Supreme Court Library. The first meeting was held on Monday, November 25 in the Supreme Court Library and lasted for about six hours, and the second session was held on Thursday, November 28 and lasted for about seven hours.