The Guyana Government and four political parties have signed an agreement which includes support for the administration in garnering help for the fight against crime from the international community.
The agreement which came out of the meeting on Tuesday night between some political stakeholders and President Bharrat Jagdeo in the aftermath of the recent massacres at Bartica and Lusignan which claimed the lives of 23 persons, also called on the international community to respond positively and urgently to the requests for further assistance. The PNCR did not sign the agreement. (See other story on centre pages.) Expert international help has been one of the main demands from political parties and others in the aftermath of the two ghastly massacres.
The agreement signed on February 19, 2008 was composed “mindful of the recent attacks on innocent civilians and the Joint Services which have undermined public safety, and recognising that there is need to further examine what may be contributing factors to this recent escalation…”
Desirous of collectively expressing their profound concern, they also unequivocally condemned crime in all its forms especially the recent Lusignan and Bartica massacres; committed to work together in support of the joint services as they fight crime professionally and within the confines of the law; agreed to work with major stakeholders in reviewing the national security plan and in accelerating its implementation; and agreed to approach the media in a more responsible manner and so promote greater social cohesion.
Those who signed the agreement late Tuesday night were President Jagdeo, Raphael Trotman on behalf of the AFC, Everall Franklin of the GAP/ROAR alliance, Donald Ramotar of the PPP/C and Valerie Lowe of TUF.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations are calling on all political parties to seek in good faith a unified position on law and order and public safety following the recent murderous attacks.
The call was made in a statement yesterday by the civil society organisations at the end of a meeting of representatives of non-governmental organizations, including private sector representatives, religious bodies, trade unions and others with President Jagdeo at the Office of the President over the past two days.
The President hosted the meeting in the wake of the more recent massacre of 12 citizens including three policemen by heavily armed gunmen at Bartica on Sunday night.
The statement said that in response to recent attacks on innocent civilians and the joint services, which have undermined public safety, they pledged themselves to commit their full and unqualified support to the joint services in confronting crime in the country and in securing the safety of citizens under the law.
They pledged to work with the government and all the parliamentary parties to jointly review the national security plan for its urgent and comprehensive implementation with the ultimate goal of cementing inclusive democracy, peace and justice; and initiate and support confidence building measures in the society at large and among communities and organisations to continue to move the country forward.
Reminding that on February 23 the country would be celebrating its 38th anniversary of Republican status, they urged all political parties, in and out of parliament and citizens, organised or not, to recommit to the principles of justice and peace in the society.
