Talks with the Social Partners are still on hold and may not resume before a new leader of the PNCR is elected.
The consultations should have begun during the past week but spokesperson for the group, Private Sector Commission chairman, Dr Peter deGroot, told Stabroek News that the meeting had been held up by a number of developments beyond their control.
The Social Partners want to consult the parties to determine whether they are willing to resume their consultations on the crime communique which was suspended last month after three sessions, or continue the discussions from September 11 concerning the question of making Article 13 of the constitution a reality.
Article 13 provides for individuals and their organisations to participate in the decision-making process of the state, especially as these affect their everyday lives.
The Social Partners initiated the consultations on the crime communique since parties identified crime as an issue for urgent action. But the parties were unable to agree on the wording of the communique, despite agreement in principle on a number of the measures to be taken, including the disbanding of the Target Special Squad, the appointment of a substantive Commissioner of Police and a review of the anti-crime legislation enacted in September.
A development which has affected the resumption of the consultation is the upcoming election to be held on February 1, for a new leader for the PNCR.
Meanwhile, Dr deGroot says that because of the state of the economy, the member companies of the associations serviced by the PSC required increased assistance, and that steps were being taken to reorganise the organisation so that it was in a better position to respond to this need.