CHIEF spokesperson for the International Labour Organisation, Sir Roy Trotman, was reported in the Kaieteur News of Friday, July 17 as saying that he would be seeking to meet President Bharrat Jagdeo on perceived violations of human and trade union rights in Guyana.

According to the newspaper, this was in relation to the arrest of two trade unionists and another man who were later charged by police for demonstrating outside Police Headquarters.

It is surprising that he would have ventured to go public on issues in Guyana, which he clearly did not bother to acquaint himself about and should have confined himself to matters on the recent Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s conference here which he attended.

Sir Roy misrepresented the issues the three men were calling for.

They were not seeking to have the government commit to its obligation and permit collective bargaining, social dialogue and freedom of association, among others, and he should have availed himself of the facts before speaking out.

The right of collective bargaining is enshrined in the laws of Guyana; there are no barriers to social dialogue, and Guyanese enjoy complete freedom of association. So, what is he really talking about?

As a Barbadian, he has no right sticking his nose in affairs here on which he is so patently out of depth.

One wonders, too, where was his voice when Guyanese were being deprived of their basic human rights and humane treatment in the immigration crackdown in Barbados?

As an ILO spokesman, he was deafeningly silent when atrocities were being committed against Guyanese in his island.

Sir Roy is totally out of place, and really should try to stop putting his foot into his mouth.
TODD MORGAN