Burke and MckenzieIN A joint statement yesterday both Paul Burke, chairman of the People's National Party's (PNP) Region Three, and Desmond McKenzie, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor for Tivoli Gardens, have denied that they will be meeting gunmen to discuss political peace in the Mountain View Avenue area.
In the statement, Mr. Burke and Mr. McKenzie said that The Gleaner's report had erroneously stated, "Burke, McKenzie to meet gunmen," and suggested it could make their attempts to have "a broad-based, inclusive meeting" difficult.
The two said that after their meeting with residents of the Mountain View Avenue area on Sunday, "There was a general agreement by all that it was necessary to bring a sufficiently wide representation of the Mountain View communities, including Back Bush, in Eastern St. Andrew, and the Burger community, in Eastern Kingston, to a series of meetings which would also, of necessity, involve some of the combatants".
The statement added that "at no time whatsoever did either of us ever mention that there was any meeting with gunmen and there has never been any desire by either of us to have any meeting with the gunmen as a specific group".
"We both accept and appreciate positive coverage of efforts by communities and politicians to work together for not just cease-fire, but for lasting peace and reintegration of the communities presently in conflict," the statement said.
