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Development Lotteries Board issue : Confrontation an unnecessary and dangerous precedent, says Joint Business Forum

"Further to the earlier statement The Joint Business Forum views with serious concern the events connected with the Development Lotteries Board which occurred on Friday May 9, 2003.

At this crucial juncture in the country's development with the sensitivity and complexity of peace talks and economic activity now under way, we regard this event as an unnecessary confrontation, which detracts from national priorities. Furthermore, this has potential to lead to a dangerous precedent resulting in uncertainty in the minds not only of Cabinet. Ministers but also of all institutions and people working within such Ministries. Those institutions will then work with limited effectiveness and will not be motivated to take a long-term development view, vital for nation building.

This will destroy the very fabric of mutual trust and respect a fundamental ingredient necessary to implement the many plans regarding the process of peace and economic restructuring. Events of this nature can result in representatives of the North, East and Southern areas requiring urgent development attention, further losing confidence in the unity, ability and sincerity of purpose of the democratically elected leaders at the overall national level of the country. All this will retard the agenda for Peace and Economic Activity.

We accordingly urge all politicians of all political parties to proactively help resolve this conflict and to forge a new platform of consultation, compromise and consensus. On behalf of the employees, their families and all other stakeholders of the enterprises who are our Chamber.

Trade Association and Employers Organization members who have island wide representation and on behalf of society as a whole, we now place the responsibility of resolving this conflict, on Her Excellency the President and the Hon. Prime Minister. We are hopeful that better sense will prevail in the larger interest of the Nation.

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