PROTOCOL FOR SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP

St. George’s, April 02, 2009 -- A group of representatives from the local civil society organizations, who together with officials of the Ministry of Finance constitute the Social Pact Committee, met on Friday March 27th, 2009 to discuss the modalities for the drafting of a Protocol for Social Partnership for Grenada. The meeting was under chaired by the Hon. V. Nazim Burke, Minister for Finance.

This initiative follows the National Dialogue on the Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Grenada, organized by the Multipartite Consultative Committee on February 5th, 2009, and is a further manifestation of Government’s response to the popular call for dialogue and coordinated action among stakeholders in working out responses to this crisis. 

The meeting examined the framework for the configuration of a Draft Social Pact for Grenada. This included the issues of representation on the Drafting Committee; the matter of chairmanship; the system of reporting; and the resources required for the execution of the initiative. In addition, the meeting looked a Statement of Principles and Objectives for the protocol itself..

The members of the Drafting Committee are as follows:

            Mr. Timothy Antoine - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance
            Sen. Christopher DeAllie – Private Sector Representative
            Mrs. Madonna Harford – President, Grenada Trade Union Council
            A Representative of the Non-Governmental Organizations

It is expected that the Protocol will generally seek to create the basis for a partnership for economic survival and social cohesion in the face of the current unprecedented global economic and financial crisis.

The Social partners and Government will be called on to work in a united manner around broad objectives for the repositioning of the Grenadian economy, the reduction of social disparities, increased competitiveness, increased productivity, good industrial relations and good governance.
The specific objectives will include:

v     The stimulation of the productive sectors for the purposes of generating employment, foreign exchange and enhancing food security;
v     The stimulation of the construction sector;
v     The preservation of existing employment and the creation of new employment;
v     The achievement of a balance between prices and incomes; and
v     The provision of well targeted safety nets.

The Social Pact Committee will submit the Draft Social Pact Protocol to the Multipartite Consultative Committee for review before the report is given to Cabinet.
 
The projected time for the completion of the Draft Social Pact is May 1st, 2009.