WE have seen announcement of hopeful presidential candidates for the 2011 General and Regional Elections. Donald Ramotar from the ruling People’s Progress Party/Civic (PPP/C); David Granger from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); and Khemraj Ramjattan from the Alliance for Change (AFC).
We, who live in a new age, need more prosperity and opportunity for all to partake in it; the majority of people need to be satisfied with the life they will be able to lead today and want no further radical change. Labour is paying for having betrayed its principles; it has become so moderate and lukewarm that it has rendered itself indistinguishable from its opponents. Let it only go back to its earlier forthright beliefs and it will re-awaken enthusiasm.

It is  the unpopular behaviour of the trade union leaders with which labour is linked. In lengthy discussions with a carefully chosen sample of the electorate, it attempted to probe the attitudes of the ordinary voter to find out what the man in the street thinks of the political choices offered him, what he values.
The man in the street may be wrong in his assessment, he may be limited in his valuation, but, when it comes to elections, his thoughts and valuations determine the fate of the contending parties.

If the tide of opinion is running against a party, its first task is to know why; its second is to ponder how to reverse the tide. Why is the tide of opinion set against labour at the present time? The survey suggests three main reasons.

The first is that labour is thought of predominantly as a class party, and that the class which it represents is – objectively and subjectively – on the wane. This stamps it with an aura of sectionalism and narrowness, at a time when people see opportunities for advancement opening before them.

It is the Conservatives who have the wider appeal. They are regarded by the majority as the champions of material prosperity, the natural home for the young, the ambitious, the successful.

And, foremost – apart from working world peace – among the qualities which the majority look for a political party, is that it should ensure prosperity. Forgotten for most people are the wretched living standards, depressions, unemployment, class rigidity, and the rest of the evils which affected an earlier generation; in the mood of today, the conservatives are undeservedly given the weight of the credit for good things that have come.

Labour may stand ‘ for the working class’ but not for the increasing numbers who feel, rightly or wrongly, they have outgrown that label.

The second reason, the ever-present pressures on trade unions have been particularly intense in recent times.  In the past decade across the country labour legislation has been even further, making it more difficult than ever both to organise and to maintain certification, as well as more difficult to protect,let alone advance workers’ rights. Collective Bargaining, never easy at the best of times, has become a constant, painful frustration; it requires sometimes necessarily leading to civil disobedience. Few trade unions have developed mechanisms for formulating quick responses to heavy issues. As such, employers actions hurt workers. Many members have little training and only weak support that would help them deal with intense pressures or develop new strategies. The third factor telling against Labour is the impression of weak, divided leadership. Labour is seen as lacking a united team of leaders. And it is this strength and unity that is valued. Let us remember the singing of this song WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON ?

COME ALL OF YOU GOOD WORKERS
GOOD NEWS TO YOU I’LL TELL
OF HOW THE GOOD OLD UNION
HAS COME IN HERE TO DWELL

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?