THE Private Sector Commission (PSC) said it is disappointed with the actions of the Chairman of Region 10 and his team, which included MP Vanessa Kissoon, AFC’s Nigel Hughes, Aubrey Norton, and APNU’s Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, for objecting to its presence as observers to the discussions with President Donald Ramotar and his team on July 31, 2012.
The meeting was called with the aim of bringing an urgent resolution to the Linden crisis, in a manner that encouraged open dialogue by “all” relevant stakeholders.
The President invited the PSC so that issues touching and concerning the private sector as a relevant stakeholder could have formed a part of the discourse.
Similarly, the Regional Chairman was asked to ensure that other relevant stakeholders such as the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Representatives of the Religious Community, etc., were invited.
“It was subsequently confirmed that the Regional Chairman did not invite the Linden Chamber of Commerce,” the PSC said in a statement yesterday.
The PSC said it believes that in light of the repeated calls for open dialogue, impartiality and an independent presence in investigations and discourse, this was a perfect opportunity to involve non-political stakeholders in arriving at resolutions for the collective benefit of all those persons, citizens and entities affected by the events of the last two weeks.
“By their refusal to embark on discussions in the presence of the Private Sector, the Regional Chairman and his team have denied the citizenry this opportunity and by extension, have refused to take a holistic approach which addresses all of the issues at hand, for all of the people affected,” the PSC said.
“It now appears to us that the promises made by most political parties for non-political observers and an independent presence, have been abandoned or are being applied selectively,” the PSC charged.
The Private Sector Commission however, assured that it will not abandon its mission.
“We will press on for fair and timely resolutions to ALL the issues arising out of the crisis at Linden,” it stated.
In so doing, the PSC said it will continue to stand true to the following four pillars that it believe are necessary facets when dealing with the issues at hand:

1. Political and social stability.
2. Economic development of Guyana
3. Law, order and accountability for our actions
4. Representation of the interests of the entire Private Sector, particularly the Mining and Forestry Sectors that are experiencing grave hardships at the moment.
“As we endeavour to play our part we will continue to keep the public informed. We hope that open, all-inclusive dialogue on all the issues related to the events in Linden, by all the relevant and affected stakeholders, can be embarked upon swiftly,” the PSC stated.
“We should not confine our discourse on national issues to the political will of a few,” it added.