MEANINGFUL dialogue in an environment of trust was underscored and fervently embraced, when a delegation of government officials, headed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, engaged the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) last Wednesday at the GTUC Boardroom, Woolford Avenue.

This meeting was a direct result of an exchange of correspondence between the GTUC and the Prime Minister in his capacity as the Leader of Government business in the National Assembly, expressing concerns of the contract signed between the Government of Guyana and the Shanghai Construction Group, which gave the latter the exclusive right to use its own deliberate judgment in employing workers and making all arrangements for the construction of the Marriott.
Following is a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and the GTUC:
This engagement benefited from:
– A sometimes emotional presentation from the Prime Minister on a range of issues, in which he argued that the growth and development of all Guyanese and all Guyana was always foremost in the mind of the PPP/C Administration.

– Insightful views and spirited  criticisms by the General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, President Norris Witter and members of the affiliates of the GTUC, including a number of questions from Mr. Christopher Ram, advisor to the GTUC.

– A PowerPoint presentation highlighting the process, detailed accounts of efforts to achieve transparency, information sharing, the financial structure, the involvement and arrangements by the various entities involved in this project; the likely outcomes as it relates to the securing of about 350 permanent jobs as a result of the Hotel and its entertainment centre, inclusive of its nightclub and its casino. This was presented by Mr. Winston Brassington, Head of the Privatization Unit/NICIL.

The PSC representatives present stated that they were encouraged by the dialogue and urged the parties to continue.

– While the parties proffered different positions, together they acknowledged Article 22 of the Guyana Constitution which speaks to “the right and the duty to work.”

– GTUC has stated that while the request for the meeting was made by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Government Business in the House, there are other issues of concerns that are grounded in Rights and the Rule of Law, and are equally important to be raised during subsequent discussions, amongst which are outstanding industrial relations issues at BCGI/RUSAL and the restoration of the subvention to the Critchlow Labour College.   And while the organisation stated its concerns regarding the manner in which the decisions related to the construction of the Marriott Hotel were arrived at, the organisation recognises that the project cannot be stopped at this juncture. As such, it would like to see arrangements put in place to avoid a recurrence of the issues that gave rise to the denial of the rights of the citizens of Guyana to work, and be equipped with the requisite skills to compete.

The parties are of the view that the issues below attend to the core of the GTUC’s concerns about the Marriott and a way forward:-
– 1.      That rules and systems be put in place that citizens at all times be given an opportunity to be employed in appropriate jobs before consideration be given to foreigners.
– 2.      The Government’s position, amongst others, on the absence of sufficient appropriate skills, must be looked at within the context of our national policy of training and education to meet the expected quality that exists at the international level.

The parties were strident during their presentations and focused on solutions.
The GTUC reiterated its intention to continue to engage the GOG to ensure that the workers of Guyana are not discriminated against, and highlighted other items on the agenda for subsequent meetings at a mutually agreed time.
The Hon. Prime Minister assured that the political will exists on the part of the administration to bring clarity to all outstanding issues and to work towards ensuring greater collaboration with the labour movement for Guyana’s development.
A proposal for the development of capacity in construction management and expanding the available pool of skilled and semi-skilled workers in Guyana will be further explored.  Integrating Government’s TEC-VOC with scholarship opportunities internationally will be examined.