…says motive to secure congress votes for a candidate

THE Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) said a planned meeting with the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) and the Ministry of Social Protection on Thursday is aimed at securing votes for a particular candidate at this weekend’s Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform.The Ministry of Social Protection in an advisory on Tuesday said that it will meet Thursday with members of the mining firm RUSAL following a recent visit to communities in which the bauxite company has interests. Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence and Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott among others will be part of the high level meeting.

The meeting is scheduled for 13:30h at the ministry’s Department of Labour office on Brickdam.

Meanwhile, in its statement the GB&GWU said continued engagements with BCGI by the ministry in the absence of complying with the 2012 High Court’s ruling to reissue letters for the commencement of arbitration signals government’s complicity with a foreign management to disrespect the nation’s judiciary, laws and rights of Guyanese labour. “Commitment was given to the Court to re-issue the letters by the Attorney General Chambers who represented the Government in the presence of the GB&GWU’s lawyer Basil Williams, presently Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. The original letter issued by then Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul which was challenged in court by BCGI addressed the company as RUSAL. BCGI is owned by Russia Aluminium (RUSAL) and the Government of Guyana.”

According to the union, the PNCR, the major party in the APNU, when in opposition held the Bharrat Jagdeo-administration accountable for refusing to respect Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act. Chp 98:07 that would see BCGI treating and negotiating with the GB&GWU in good faith. “The PNCR during the leadership of Robert Corbin, who was also Leader of the Opposition, brought before the National Assembly and debated a no-confidence motion in then Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir for his failure to discharge his duty under the laws.”

The union added that when the Donald Ramotar administration-under whom arbitration letters were issued-refused to comply with the Court’s ruling, the present Attorney General and President, who are also Chairman and Leader of the PNCR respectively, condemned the PPP/C government and called on them to act. “The APNU and AFC made the BCGI matter a major plank in its campaign for office and secured the overwhelmingly confidence of the workers/electorate in Region 10 where the company operates.”

“It is the view of some, including aggrieved workers, that government has timed the BCGI meeting in order to come out and make bold statements after, in effort to influence support and votes for certain candidates at the PNCR Delegates Conference scheduled for this weekend.

“The President is principal custodian of the Laws of Guyana. The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs is the principal legal advisor to the Government on the laws. Both gentlemen are called on to say to workers, their union (GB&GWU) and the society whether they hold in esteem the 2012 Court’s ruling and if so when will it be implemented?

It is a universal principle where the court does not stipulate time, decisions are meant to be implemented forthwith. Four years is more than enough time to uphold the court’s decision,” the union charged. The union is also calling on the government to advise whether the Minister of Social Protection is operating on her own to trample on the judiciary and rights of Guyanese labour: “for clearly, it is either the Cabinet has no regard for the independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law or forces within are bent on embarrassing this branch of government and dragging the country into further disrepute. This nation deserves the truth.”