Abstract Express
By CURTIS WILLIAMS

THE People’s National Movement yesterday slammed the 11 business organisations which had invited the party’s leader, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, to a meeting, describing the move as a breach of protocol.

The country’s largest business groups had written to Manning and UNC leader Basdeo Panday calling for talks to end the political deadlock and to ensure that Parliament got going.

Addressing the business leaders, the PNM statement read: "How dare you folks, given the critical nature of the matter, summon the Prime Minister to a meeting? And to compound the error in diplomacy and protocol, the letter is released to the media."

The PNM said while it wanted a return to normalcy, the problem had arisen due to the "obstinacy of the opposition leader".

In its statement to the media, the PNM asserted the first move towards the resumption of normalcy was the UNC’s acceptance of the ten-point Crowne Plaza agreement.