NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF GRENADA, DR. THE HON. KEITH MITCHELL, CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM), 8 JANUARY 1998

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, in his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), following a meeting today with CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington, has expressed grave concern over reports from Guyana regarding the state of social unrest and the resulting disruption to the private and public lives of citizens, as well as the effects of the situation on the economic and social life of other Caribbean States. He gave a commitment to have the issue fully discussed and analysed within the Region.

The CARICOM Chairman is convinced that the interests of the people of Guyana and of the Region will be well served if a Mission comprising members of the Bureau of the Heads of CARICOM and/or other prominent regional leaders were to journey to Guyana as soon as possible to investigate the developments emanating from the election results of the December 15, 1997 poll, provided there is agreement for such a Mission from the major political Parties involved and respect for the judicial process now in train.

CARICOM will use its available resources to assist the Guyanese people in the resolution of the current crisis and to plan the way forward.

The specific objectives of the proposed Mission would be:

• To enable CARICOM to formulate an independent position on the situation in Guyana;
   
• to attempt to arrest the trend towards escalating violence; and
   
• to do everything possible to ensure that the people of Guyana are united in their quest for free democratic expression.