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THE governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has fired back at sections of civil society which have been critical of the use of primarily Chinese workers for the construction of the Marriott Hotel, in Kingston, Georgetown. Presidential Adviser on Governance, Ms. Gail Teixeira called the criticism downright ‘racist’ at a media engagement at the party’s Freedom House Headquarters, in Robb Street, Georgetown.
“…it smells stink…it smells of racism,” the former government minister, currently Government Chief Whip in Parliament.
She cautioned that the Guyana Constitution speaks condignly to the issue of ethnicity and nationality.
“One is not allowed to discriminate,” Teixeira pointed out, listing ethnicity, religion, class, gender, geographic origin and nationality as being enshrined in the Constitution for protection against discrimination.
She argued that, in fact, the country’s labour laws under the provision of services ensure that Guyanese and foreigners are protected.
Foreigners who work and live in Guyana access the same services as Guyanese such as schools and are not harassed for documents such as work permits, Teixeira noted.
The former Home Affairs Minister was adamant that, as a result of Guyana signing onto the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families, obligations have to be met.
She said the obligations would not be enforced at the expense of Guyanese workers’ rights but Guyana is also obliged to protect the rights of migrant workers
Worst display
Alluding to what she describes as the worst display of racism in Guyana’s history, Teixeira mentioned several of the larger scale projects that, over the years, would have involved a heavy foreign national presence but for which there were no protests.
She observed that, when Barama set up shop here, just over 30 years ago, there was a high Malaysian and Phillipines workforce as against Guyanese.
According to the former minister, at that time, unemployment of Guyanese was at a significantly higher rate, standing at about 30 percent of the national population.
Even then, there was no argument that Guyanese rights to work had been infringed, she said.
Teixeira referred to the Guyana National Stadium, made possible through an agreement with the Indian Export/Import Bank that saw scores of Indian nationals being brought here to undertake the works.
“I was Minister of Home Affairs at the time. I know about the work permits. I know how many Indians came,” she recalled.
She said another such project was the International Conference Centre, again with a China/Guyana agreement, where Chinese workers were used.
“I didn’t hear a peep about this in the press. Skeldon Sugar Factory, again foreign and Chinese workers; I didn’t hear a peep from anyone and lo and behold the Marriott takes place and everybody is up in arms,” Teixeira remarked.
No Guyanese
She suggested that, at present, there is no Guyanese working in exploration of the local oil and gas sectors, yet there is no public outcry and attributed that, in part, to the fact that there are no Guyanese skilled to work in the sector, a situation that the Administration is looking to remedy through its university.
Teixeira declared that, with just over 770,000 people living in Guyana, coupled with the levels and amount of work required to be done to develop the country at the desired pace, there has to be an importation of labour.
“There are Canadian companies; we have Russian companies and all are bringing in foreign workers,” she said, noting there is no objection to foreign nationals in those quarters.
Teixeira said the immigration policy of the country has to be one devised to attract skills and enquired if the difficulty with the Chinese has become an issue as a result of racism.
“Are we racist in this country?” she asked, adding: “We should be ashamed…Guyana has never seen and read this level of what I call racism against a particular ethnic group and nationality in this country.”
About the PPP’s position, given its pro-working class background, Teixeira said: “We are always there for working class…foreign and local.”
She said, though, that the attacks on the Marriott project may be directed more at the Administration.
Teixeira said there was a matter of corruption being harped on, but when it did not turn up credible evidence, the issue was switched to that of the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project, all flagship projects, for the current Administration.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who joined Teixeira at Freedom House, said it must be taken into account that hundreds of thousands of Guyanese live and work in countries all across the world.
“As a country, we cannot afford to take that kind of position. If we take that position we do so to the detriment of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese,” he warned.
“…it smells stink…it smells of racism,” the former government minister, currently Government Chief Whip in Parliament.
She cautioned that the Guyana Constitution speaks condignly to the issue of ethnicity and nationality.
“One is not allowed to discriminate,” Teixeira pointed out, listing ethnicity, religion, class, gender, geographic origin and nationality as being enshrined in the Constitution for protection against discrimination.
She argued that, in fact, the country’s labour laws under the provision of services ensure that Guyanese and foreigners are protected.
Foreigners who work and live in Guyana access the same services as Guyanese such as schools and are not harassed for documents such as work permits, Teixeira noted.
The former Home Affairs Minister was adamant that, as a result of Guyana signing onto the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families, obligations have to be met.
She said the obligations would not be enforced at the expense of Guyanese workers’ rights but Guyana is also obliged to protect the rights of migrant workers
Worst display
Alluding to what she describes as the worst display of racism in Guyana’s history, Teixeira mentioned several of the larger scale projects that, over the years, would have involved a heavy foreign national presence but for which there were no protests.
She observed that, when Barama set up shop here, just over 30 years ago, there was a high Malaysian and Phillipines workforce as against Guyanese.
According to the former minister, at that time, unemployment of Guyanese was at a significantly higher rate, standing at about 30 percent of the national population.
Even then, there was no argument that Guyanese rights to work had been infringed, she said.
Teixeira referred to the Guyana National Stadium, made possible through an agreement with the Indian Export/Import Bank that saw scores of Indian nationals being brought here to undertake the works.
“I was Minister of Home Affairs at the time. I know about the work permits. I know how many Indians came,” she recalled.
She said another such project was the International Conference Centre, again with a China/Guyana agreement, where Chinese workers were used.
“I didn’t hear a peep about this in the press. Skeldon Sugar Factory, again foreign and Chinese workers; I didn’t hear a peep from anyone and lo and behold the Marriott takes place and everybody is up in arms,” Teixeira remarked.
No Guyanese
She suggested that, at present, there is no Guyanese working in exploration of the local oil and gas sectors, yet there is no public outcry and attributed that, in part, to the fact that there are no Guyanese skilled to work in the sector, a situation that the Administration is looking to remedy through its university.
Teixeira declared that, with just over 770,000 people living in Guyana, coupled with the levels and amount of work required to be done to develop the country at the desired pace, there has to be an importation of labour.
“There are Canadian companies; we have Russian companies and all are bringing in foreign workers,” she said, noting there is no objection to foreign nationals in those quarters.
Teixeira said the immigration policy of the country has to be one devised to attract skills and enquired if the difficulty with the Chinese has become an issue as a result of racism.
“Are we racist in this country?” she asked, adding: “We should be ashamed…Guyana has never seen and read this level of what I call racism against a particular ethnic group and nationality in this country.”
About the PPP’s position, given its pro-working class background, Teixeira said: “We are always there for working class…foreign and local.”
She said, though, that the attacks on the Marriott project may be directed more at the Administration.
Teixeira said there was a matter of corruption being harped on, but when it did not turn up credible evidence, the issue was switched to that of the Amaila Falls hydroelectric project, all flagship projects, for the current Administration.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who joined Teixeira at Freedom House, said it must be taken into account that hundreds of thousands of Guyanese live and work in countries all across the world.
“As a country, we cannot afford to take that kind of position. If we take that position we do so to the detriment of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese,” he warned.
