FITUG:  Where Are We Now
Forty-six years – close as it is to a half century – constitute a significant enough period for any individual, institution, community or nation to take stock of its development, or lack thereof. Or to assess its status for the purpose of active introspection and meaningful review. That is why the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is pleased to make a simple contribution to the national observance of Guyana’s 46th anniversary of Independence. Observing and celebrating the attainment, the status of political and constitutional “independence”, naturally implies a transition from some more dependent or subordinate stage. In Guyana’s case, we reflect on the settlement by our first indigenous peoples, invasion, occupation and colonisation by Europeans; then the anti-colonial, independence struggles which resulted in the now 46 years of Independence after that watershed, memorable day of May 26, 1966.
FITUG reflects and asks: how long the journey? Where are we now?
Many organisations will use this weekend to reflect on a past that has brought us to where we now are.
FITUG sees the post-independence journey through contemporary, history-making milestones and challenges: Republicanism 1970; International Economic and Oil Crises of the early and mid-1970s; the new Constitution of 1980; political and economic hardships, dysfunction and depravation of the eighties, up to the new political dawn of late 1992. Where are we now, as a nation?
FITUG won’t use the brevity of this message to cast blame for our obviously slow rate of economic development and national progress. Guyanese of the immediate past generation, fair-minded and honest, all know those engineers of our relative under-development. They know why migration has depleted our national human resource; they know why we now still import too much food, clothing and other essentials for a good life. Guyanese also know who the post-Independence, post-Republic trouble makers and anti-nationalists were.
Today, the 46th Independence Anniversary finds us at interesting historical crossroads. Our Parliament commands collaboration now; our socio-economic development, despite earlier stagnation, beckons for astute management in a stable environment. Private infrastructure is going apace; governmental economic programmes depend on new budgetary allocations and society’s services and expectations rest on the provision of health care, education, housing, transportation, water, and a crime-free dispensation. These are national challenges, demanding national responses from our leaders and ourselves.
FITUG, therefore, urges 46th Anniversary reflections be mixed with a national resolve to separate the crossroads into paths of development. Let there be national cohesion to transcend political
one-upmanship.
Guyana’s workers – employed and willing to be employed stand ready to earn their share of a reasonable life in 2012 – and beyond. From our forests, our minerals, our land and rivers, our technologies of this century.
After 46 years of challenges, they deserve much more reward.
Happy Independence to the workers, their children and all other citizens of the independent Republic.

IAC: The Secret To Nation Building Is Unity And Working Together
On the occasion of the 46th Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence, the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) extends greetings to all Guyanese.
We cannot lose sight of the fact that what we have in Guyana today is the cumulative experience and work of all who came to this country, including the native people or Amerindians that were already here for thousands of years.
It is necessary for every Guyanese to realise and be reminded constantly that building a multi-ethnic country like Guyana proceeds from the recognition that each group brought something here; and therefore the secret to nation building is unity and working together.
Even as we celebrate the 46th Anniversary of our nation’s independence, the IAC urges all Guyanese to reflect on the traumatic experiences of about 3,300 East Indian men, women and children who were forced to flee Wismar and Christiansburg on 26th May, 1964, when the entire East Indian community of these areas was completely destroyed in an act of pre-meditated terror unleashed by opponents of the then ruling PPP. Our nation has come a far way, and such atrocities must not be allowed to be repeated.
The IAC wishes to state that the fundamental lesson for all Guyanese is that, by working together, a great nation can be built.
A Happy 46th Independence Anniversary to all Guyanese.

THE PYO: We Saw Hope For A Better Future After 1992
May 26th 2012 marks the 46th year since the Union Jack was lowered and the Golden Arrowhead was triumphantly hoisted in recognition of the birth of an Independent Guyana.
We in the Progressive Youth Organization (PYO) wish to extend heartfelt gratitude to our leaders who courageously fought for and won Independence from the British colonial masters.
We have recognized, from our history, that the struggle was long and hard, life was difficult and conditions on the plantations were abominable. Many of the Leaders of the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), including Dr. Cheddi Jagan, were jailed and restricted. Years later it was revealed that both the British and Americans did not want Dr. Jagan to lead the then British Guiana into independence and as such they manipulated the system and forcibly removed, on two occasions, the PPP Government from Office.
Yet in his May 26th, 1966, address to the National Assembly, Dr Jagan welcomed Independence and urged that the nation use the opportunity to work towards a better life for all Guyana.
Post-independence, there was great hope for Guyana, but unfortunately, the country plummeted into close to three decades of undemocratic rule that allowed for the destruction of the social fibre of our society, mass poverty, corruption and overall hopelessness.
Our first post-independence free and fair elections in 1992 brought not only the PPP into government, but allowed for our country to finally begin to see the hope of a better future that independence promised. From then to now, we have seen tremendous growth and development in our nation. Our young people today have experienced a better life and have great hopes and aspirations for the future.
We urge all Guyanese and particularly our young people to let the past be a guide in our future action. We must never forget the struggles and hardships of the heroes of Guyana who played a role in bringing Independence to our nation.
Happy 46th Independence Anniversary to ALL GUYANA!

GPSU: Extending A Message Of Hope And Courage To Every Guyanese
Forty-six years ago Guyana became an independent state and its proud and enthusiastic people embraced the freedom bestowed by the declaration of independence with spirit and great determination. The end of 163 years of British Colonial rule was greeted with days of celebration, pomp and ceremony and there was a unified cry of freedom. There was the desire to charter our own destiny, exploit the freedom to make our own decisions and live in a society devoid of interference. Independence saw the fashioning of the Country’s flag the “Golden Arrowhead”, with five symbolic colours depicting the country’s assets: green representing agriculture and forests; gold for its mineral wealth; red for the zeal of nation-building; black for the people’s endurance; and white symbolising the natural water potential of the country.
Today, May 26, 2012, as we celebrate the 46th Anniversary of our country’s independence, the strings that bound our common humanity in cohesive decision making has become frayed, tattered and worn. Widespread enthusiasm has been dashed and deflated by wholesale corruption in highest offices; where suppression and abuse compromises freedom; where there is deliberate exploitation and inequity resulting in inhumane disparity in standards of living; where our motto now more resembles racism, discrimination and inequality; where the rule of law is trampled upon; where lawlessness and political interference is rampant; where quantity is preferable to quality; where access to quality health care is another ‘thing’ of the past; where respect for citizenry by a regime in authority has become almost nonexistent in our society.
Despite the foregoing negative developments, this date reminds us that we are an independent nation, with full sovereign rights. We, as Guyanese must put aside our racial, religious, political and economic differences and aim for common goals whereby everyone can benefit equally.
As a people, it should be our proud responsibility and committed obligation to protect our country and its image, be loyal patriots by doing whatever we can to improve the quality of life and enhance harmony amongst each other. We must recommit to our motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and ensure that those we elect to safeguard our nation’s wellbeing, faithfully fulfils the mandate given. We must not sit idly by and watch a marginal few create the basis of chaos and mayhem, while allowing our country to disintegrate. We must stay the course and not be intimidated by the man-made challenges or difficulties. We must unify, confront and overcome these challenges or difficulties in order to accomplish the desired goals of eliminating or arresting the deterioration of this nation, noting that each challenge is the product of human failure, of mistaken priorities, of inadequate institutions and policies. Each can be resolved through collective action, through the innovative ideas and fresh energies that will characterize us as a generation of problem solvers.
It is the hope that as a nation, unique as our own, we can find compromise; we can become creative thinkers; cultivate a culture of enlightenment, fair-mindedness and evenhandedness and etch out an understanding approach to the multi-faceted governance issues that currently exists. We can be flexible and visionary; we can increase our thoughtful, compassionate and caring nature.
Such an approach would undoubtedly be a noble example to our young men and women, who would be encouraged, inspired and imbued with hope to continue to build on such traditions to create a prosperity filled future for generations of Guyanese, who would be the vanguard of CARICOM integration.
With the wish to every citizen of a happy independence, the GPSU would like to convey a message of hope and encouragement to every Guyanese citizen. Again, let the words of our motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” guide every one of us and let it be a source of pride for the future. No matter how we differ in thoughts these words should always unite us and be the bastion of our nationhood.