PSOJ weighs in

THE ISLAND'S top private sector leaders have stepped in to mediate discussions to find solutions to the violence gripping parts of the city which has claimed the lives of at least 25 persons since Saturday.

Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) president Peter Moses is expected to lead a high-powered business team into western Kingston this morning to get first-hand information on the disaster there.

"This decision was taken following a meeting to discuss the upsurge in violence and instability that has now started to spread across the country," said the PSOJ in a statement late yesterday. "This upsurge in violence has led to an unprecedented loss of life and has had a crippling effect on the country as a whole."

According to the PSOJ, today's fact-finding tour "is the first step in a process intended to facilitate dialogue between the political leadership of both parties and to lead to an immediate end to this crisis which threatens the very core of our existence as a civil society."

JLP leader Edward Seaga will accompany business leaders on the tour of western Kingston. The Western Kingston Member of Parliament told Prime Minister P.J. Patterson about the tour in a letter late yesterday as "I would not wish any section of the security forces in West Kingston to expose them to any harassment or danger".

In his letter, Mr. Seaga told the Prime Minister that he met with the PSOJ at the request of its executive "to discuss the grave situation in West Kingston and the rest of the island concerning the civil unrest, multiple deaths and social distress which prevails."

He pointed out too that the PSOJ has offered to mediate discussions "that could lead to a fruitful basis for a meeting at the highest level in an urgent effort to find a solution to the deepening crisis."

The Opposition Leader said that he has committed himself "to accepting from the PSOJ any recommendations it may make in relation to how we may proceed on whatever agenda of concerns they recommend for discussion."

Mr. Seaga pointed to what he called "a grave crisis" of lack of food, lack of medical treatment and supplies, and the inability to transport the wounded to doctors from western Kingston. He said too that "the number of persons dead from gunshot wounds on our count is 21. Of these, 17 bodies are in the funeral parlour, many of which were on the ground for three days being retrieved late today (yesterday). Two bodies are still on the streets, one being eaten by dogs."

According to him, the number of wounded at the Kingston Public Hospital exceeds 40.

The Opposition Leader told the Prime Minister that "in light of these alarming statistics", there is a "most urgent need" to reach a solution today. "The level of human distress involved does not allow us any further time," declared Mr. Seaga.

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