THE Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has extended congratulations to Mrs. Kamala Persad-Bissessar on her recent elections and appointment as Prime Minster which came in the wake of her victory at the National Elections held in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on May 25, 2010. The GPSU is also commending the decision of the Persad-Bissessar government of Trinidad and for the confidence they have placed in their country’s trade union movement a strategic social partner. “Tangible evidence is seen in the appointment of senior labour stalwart to the cabinet namely Messrs Errol Mc Leod, retired Presidents General of the Oil Field Trade Union  and Rudy Indar Singh, President of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union. This is further evidence by the principled position to engage the labour movement in the compilation of the Trinidad and Tobago 2010-2011 National Budget,” the GPSU said.
The GPSU notes that these commendable actions by the Trinidad and Tobago Government are in keeping with internationally acceptable standards of inclusive governance whereby local, regional, and national governments engage civil society as strategic partners in the development process. The GPSU is heartened by this development in a CARICOM country and is convinced that it is tangible evidence of strategic social partnership which augurs well for the sustainable development of our region, especially since at this time we are faced with many complex developmental challenges.
“In this regard the GPSU call on all governments of CARICOM particularly the Government of the Republic of Guyana to embrace and structure the composition of their cabinets and other decision making institutions with a view to accommodating exclusive stakeholder participation,” GPSU urged.