The PPP/C says remarks made by Chairman of the Social Partners grouping, Dr Peter deGroot on the failure of the initiative, are poorly timed and misrepresent the party’s position.

At a press conference yesterday, the party took offence at deGroot’s statement made last month at a luncheon with diplomats, where he said the PPP/C had helped scuttle the initiative to bring the parties to the table, out of fear that the Social Partners would become a third political force.

General-Secretary, Donald Ramotar told reporters that the party was setting the record straight.

He said too that what deGroot had failed to state was the fact that the lack of achievement had to do with constant changing of the position of the PNCR during the process.

He cited the example of the crime communique, where despite agreement at the final meeting the PNCR abandoned all those positions and presented new ones, which prevented the communique from being signed.

He noted that in the first place the PPP had welcomed the initiative and had given it unconditional support when it was first proposed. According to Ramotar, the party did express the view then that the Social Partners group should have been broader. “Significantly, the farmers’ organisations were not invited to be involved, neither were the religious bodies.”

Ramotar said at the time the labour movement was disunited, noting that some of the large unions had withdrawn from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (TUC) and they too were excluded along with the Berbice branch of the Bar Association.

Despite this, Ramotar said the PPP worked with the body even though it had felt that the other social groups should have been included.

“So deGroot’s interpretation that the government representatives had the perception...that the Social Partners group would possibly develop into a third political force... was totally misplaced. That was never a consideration on our part,” Ramotar declared.

“The PPPC is deeply concerned that such jaundiced views on its positions are made at such high forums. Such actions do not engender confidence nor trust.”