Tuesday September 1st, 2009, St. George’s: The Government of Grenada has taken note of recent statements in the media by Representatives of Labor concerning the status of talks between Government and Social Partners aimed at creating a protocol on Employment, Incomes, Prices, Poverty Eradication and Safety Nets and Productivity. Government notes the explanation offered for the stalled talks, that is, the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) awaits a response from the Government with respect to proposals submitted by the GTUC. In the interest of ensuring that proper and accurate information is transmitted regarding this very important national exercise the Government considers it important to state the following: In response to a call made on the floor of the Senate by the representatives of the Private Sector and Labor on the occasion of Budget Debate 2008, the Multi-partite Committee commenced a series of discussions in early 2009 aimed at working out the modalities for dialogue leading to the creation of a Social Pact. This process commenced with a National Consultation on February 5th on the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Grenada, at which presentations were made by Government and all the social partners. This initiative was given greater impetus by the appeal made by the Prime Minister in his National Address in April 2009, in which he called for national unity and shared sacrifice and made a plea for all Social Partners to intensify dialogue on the Social Pact so as to conclude their work by May 01, 2009. A sub-committee of the Multi-Partite committee consisting of representatives of Labor, the Private Sector, the NGO Community and the Government, worked on this protocol from March to June 2009, scheduling 12 meetings, 3 of which were postponed at the request of the Labor representatives. These discussions were chaired by Finance Minister, Honourable Nazim Burke. A Draft Protocol was prepared after several revisions. At the final meeting of the Committee on June 23rd 2009, the Labor Representatives did not attend. The Committee decided that before circulating the Draft Protocol for public scrutiny Government should meet Labor to ensure it was in full agreement with the contents of the document. Government made a request for this meeting. The GTUC responded by saying that it could not accommodate Government’s request at that time. The Government of Grenada has, in recent days, made a subsequent request for a meeting with the GTUC. The Government of Grenada wishes to register its willingness to continue dialogue with the GTUC and other Social Partners on this critical matter, as well as Government’s commitment to see it through to its final conclusion, in the form of an endorsement by Parliament, as well as a public signing. Government wishes to emphasize that considerable progress has already been made in the drafting of the Social Pact, and indeed many of the proposals made by Labor have already been incorporated into the draft. Government calls on all Social Partners to heed the call by the Prime Minister to engage with great urgency in the spirit of shared sacrifice for the benefit of all. From the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Economy, Energy & Cooperatives