JLP, PNP mum on talks

REPRESENTATIVES OF the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People's National Party (PNP) emerged from the headquarters of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Hope Road, Kingston last night, tight-lipped about the details of a 90-minute talk with its president, Peter Moses.

Sources close to the parties said however that there was consensus on the urgency of having their respective leaders meet to find ways to reduce the violence in the city's west end.

On yesterday's agenda was the ongoing conflict in sections of West Kingston which has claimed more than 50 lives over the past three months. Half of those were killed in the July 7 and 8 gun battle between members of the security forces and gunmen in the area. Two members of the security forces died in that stand-off.

The talks, a prelude to a meeting between Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, President of the PNP, and JLP leader Edward Seaga, were brokered by the PSOJ which is to prepare a communiqué coming out of the meeting. Both sides will have to agree on the document which will be discussed with both leaders before an agenda is set for both men to talk.

"Every urgency is being attached. The paramount thing is the meeting of the two leaders," a Gleaner source said last night. According to the source, the urgency of having the meeting between the two men and bringing the violence in the troubled communities to an end dominated yesterday's discussions. "The PSOJ views the meeting of Mr. Patterson and Mr. Seaga as an important signal in achieving this objective," the source said.

Those representing the PNP were party General Secretary Maxine Henry-Wilson, Transport and Works Minister Dr. Peter Phillips, and Paul Burke, Chairman of the PNP's Region 3. The JLP was represented by Derrick Smith, spokesman on National Security and Justice, Olivia "Babsy" Grange, spokesperson on Information and Culture, and Desmond McKenzie, Councillor for the Tivoli Gardens Division.

The PSOJ had been trying for more than a week to get both sides to meet. However, talks scheduled for last Thursday were postponed as the PSOJ said it needed more time to examine the terms of reference of the Commission of Enquiry announced by Mr. Patterson to probe the West Kingston violence which claimed 25 lives over two days. Both had also said they needed more time to examine the terms.

Signs that a weekend meeting was likely were visible as early as last Thursday when Mr. Seaga said his team was prepared to discuss measures to restore peace to the area. "When we meet, first of all, peace has to be the subject on the agenda," he said while touring sections of his violence-torn constituency on Friday.

Delano Franklin, special advisor to the Prime Minister all but confirmed the meeting when he spoke with The Gleaner Friday night. "Once there is consensus, once there is an understanding coming out of that meeting (then) Prime Minister Patterson is prepared to meet (with Mr. Seaga) as soon as possible thereafter," he said.

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