An opposition group in Grenada is appealing to the Keith Mitchell government and the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) to try and avert a confrontation on the controversial 5% tax to be implemented from this month.

The umbrella trade union movement on the island has been threatening to engage in mass protest action if Mitchell’s ruling New National Party (NNP) government goes ahead with plans to introduce the tax.

The Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC) has been trying to mediate in the stand-off between the two sides. The Mitchell government was due to meet on Tuesday to decide whether to introduce the tax or make some concessions to the trade unions.

Government says that the tax is needed to help in the reconstruction of the island following the ravages of two recent hurricanes while GTUC is insisting that the money could be raised through other means.

Following is the full text of the statement issued by PLM whose leader is former Attorney-General, Dr. Francis Alexis:

The People’s Labour Movement (PLM) informed the people of Grenada before the last election of 2003 that NNP was not good for the country.

In the PLM Manifesto “Putting People First” we hunted for solutions to the problems facing us and gave solutions, the question is who is NNP putting first?

Is it the people in general or is their own people, Grenada as far as we know still belongs to all of us.

The Government of Grenada and the Grenada Trades Union Council and others are gearing up for a head on collision to further disrupt Grenada similarly to that of Hurricane Ivan and Emily and may be even worse.

Cannot the Government of Grenada and the GTUC who represent a large number of workers in this country resolve their differences on this Reconstruction Levy? Why cannot there be maturity on both sides to solve this problem instead of being at loggerheads with each other?

Problem is that you have a Government who believes that Grenada belongs to them and a GTUC and others who may very well feel that Grenada belongs to them and not the people. They are both wrong; Grenada belong to the people of Grenada, all of us, not NNP, NDC, GTUC etc...

If both sides require some maturity to negotiate a settlement, PLM can provide the personnel and some solutions. Why, because PLM cares about Grenada and the people of Grenada unconditionally. The PLM again urges the Government and the GTUC to sit down and talk and for them to stop playing games with peoples lives.