Telling it like it is

GENERAL Elections: We live in a democracy and we say that proudly. But it is incumbent on us to protect and preserve that which we are proud of.  Our parliament has been dissolved to pave the way for fresh general elections, widely expected to be held in late November of this year.  The workers of Guyana therefore have a very important role to play in electing a new parliament to serve in their best interest.  Voting in general elections is a civic duty the workers must not shy away from.

I am told that 17 political parties are going to the polls and this revelation certainly surprised me.  I am still trying to identify the 17 parties.  It matters not however how many parties will go to the polls, I believe that the workers of Guyana will focus on three political institutions in the main.  In other words, I believe that the workers will have their eyes on three big ones, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC).  The PPP/C currently holds the reins of government and the big question is whether there is need for a change.

As the workers follow the election campaigns of the parties, they should consider the issues at hand and not be sidetracked otherwise.  We know that we live in an imperfect world and no government is perfect.  In every government there are positives and negatives in how they conduct affairs.  So as we participate in the election campaigns we must first examine the incumbent, looking at the positives and the negatives and to see which one outweighs the other.  Then we must examine the challengers for the office of government and see what they have to offer and capable of executing for the betterment of the working class.  As I see it, the workers do not have a difficult choice to make. 

The election campaign is off and running.  So let me take this opportunity to appeal to all the parties to keep it clean and respect the right of all the contestants to be heard.  Once we do this, we would keep our eyes on the issues and put to rest the bogey of racial only considerations.

As I continue to write I note a former PNC/R high profile member has joined the ranks of the PPP/C and has vowed to campaign vigorously to return that party to government.  How will the workers view this move?  Will it help them to decide how they will vote?  I really don’t know.  We’ll have wait until elections day to see the result.  What is certain though is that this latest move will impact the PPP/C campaign. 

As for the other big runners in the race, they are promising the stars.  Will the workers buy their promises or will they stick with the incumbent?  Again, we’ll have to wait and see what unfolds in the end.  However, we cannot dispute the fact that in terms of the economy, the track record of the incumbent is impressive.  When the world scene is surveyed, we see the economic difficulties workers in many countries are going through.  Whereas thousands of workers have lost their jobs as a result, the same cannot be said of Guyana.  Is it just luck that we are in a more fortunate position than our counterparts in many other countries or is it the result of how we managed our affairs? The workers are intelligent enough to know the answer.  They have been observing the developments taking place around the world, thanks to the electronic media.  When they go to the polls, they will certainly be voting for progress.

Peace and Love as we debate one another during the general elections campaign!  I call on all workers to do their civic duty, go out and vote when the time comes.

Acknowledging the contribution of teachers: Recently (October 5, 2011), teachers in Guyana joined with others around the world to celebrate World Teachers Day.  In this regard, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) played its part in highlighting the very important role teachers continue to play in our nation.  It is said that teachers mould a nation and that is so very true.  At whatever level they operate in the teaching profession, they help to shape the minds of those whom they teach from nursery to university.  But although we all recognize this fact of how important our teachers are, we can still see them struggling like any ordinary worker to get what they are really worth in terms of compensation.  And that is the same kind of struggle we see in other parts of the world.  I say to the teachers, don’t give up the struggle, the nation appreciates you and the best for you is coming.

Caribbean Congress of Labour: The Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) is the recognized regional umbrella body for organized labour in the Caribbean.  As such, it has a responsibility to attract into its fold all of organized labour in the Caribbean.  I am aware however that there are trade union organizations in the region wanting to belong, but certain obstacles are being put in their way to prevent them.  I understand too that the CCL itself is trying to overcome the obstacles and as such the body has embarked on a programme of reform.  They are looking also to get back on stream in terms of the harmonization of labour legislation in the region.  That being so, I will address the “CARICOM Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations Principles” in a future presentation of Labour Corner so that workers would be able to learn some of what has already been done to move labour in harmony in the Caribbean.

It was good to see a top-level delegation of the CCL visiting Guyana recently to talk with both the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).  It is my hope that those discussions would redound to the benefit of organized labour in Guyana.  Our labour movement has been divided for a very long time now.  Unity of the labour movement in Guyana is paramount.  The leaders would have to put aside their personal feelings and do what is best for the uplift of the workers.  Labour cannot realize its full potential in a divided environment.
*The writer is the former General Secretary of the Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU) and also a former President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and a former Vice President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). He served the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) as Research Officer 1983 – 1998.