HYPOCRISY and its inherent ally of double standards have now become firmly entrenched in the daily, political armoury of the local political opposition. Perhaps, one may argue that it is natural for some politicians to be hypocritical, because of the opportunistic nature of politics.

Nevertheless every politician , especially those who aspire to national leadership, must adhere to high moral standards, since such are inextricably bound up in shaping the direction of the nation.
But if it is accepted that it is grossly unholy for politicians to be hypocritical, then it is even treacherous for those who claim to be representatives of the workers, ensuring their every right is upheld and protected, to be of such an iniquitous brand. And the issue of the Marriott Hotel building project exposes this great si, with regard the Guyana Trades Union Movement.
Sure, it was easily predictable, that the announcement of local workers not being hired for the construction phase of the proposed Marriott Hotel, would have drawn fire from the local fraternity of  unions, generally. After all, as was alluded to in the preceding paragraph – it is their traditional  right to represent their membership. But such must be consistent, and not be convenient.
One must note the militancy of the GTUC, coupled with their allies from the political opposition and sections of civil society, carried in bold front page pictorial of the well known opposition media, the Kaieteur News, of 15.2.13.
But where were the voices of protest from these very groups, jointly and severally, when Mr. Robert Badal, a major financier of the  Alliance For Change and the first principal objector to the building of the Marriott, was busting the unions? This incident is well known, of a major captain of industry, refusing his hotel staff union representation, as they labour under unacceptable working conditions. Carville Duncan and his Guyana Labour Union membership, and another prominent trade union leader, were the only unionists who supported the Pegasus workers by staging a vigorous protest action at the hotel.
Where were the Lewises, the Witters, and  the Yardes et al? How can they as trade union leaders, feel justified in mounting attacks against the employment policy of the Marriott, but not against the owner of the Pegasus Hotel  for anti-union tactics? Not only was this unpardonable, but also sacrificing workers’ interests on the altar of vested interests.
And there  was the usual hypocrisy of the AFC, among the political parties. How could this party, that has  been speaking so much about protecting the well-being of the working class of this nation, not utter a word against Badal’s grave transgression?
This is dangerous hypocrisy and opportunism that exist among the GTUC and opposition political parties.