PRESIDENT of  the Federation of  Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Carvil Duncan, has issued a clarion call to workers falling under its umbrella, to come out and protest the recent $31.4B cut effected to the 2013 Budget if the need arises. Duncan’s call came yesterday at the FITUG-organised May Day Rally, held at the National Park and attended by several hundred workers and included stakeholders such as President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud and Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman, Nigel Hughes, among others.   
The event which was punctuated with several cultural items including a ‘majorettes’ performance, saw Duncan’s charge to workers to “seriously think about tomorrow.”
The FITUG president told workers to ponder on why it is that no other trade union in Guyana has either spoken out in support of the budget or in condemnation of the cuts.
“They have said nothing. Have they betrayed you?” questioned Duncan who also queried if it is a case of the unions being complacent.
He said that through the budget cuts, it is not only the projects directly impacted that will be affected but “it is the nation that will suffer.”
Reflecting on this year’s May Day theme of focusing on worker’s rights, Duncan asked if whether the recent developments have been in the best interest of labour.
“If you agree you have the right to work and if you agree that everything is not happening in your best interest and if you agree on no cuts, if called upon you will protest vigorously,” he charged.
Duncan, who also sits on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) company, used the platform to posit that because the revenue earned by the power company is inadequate to sustain itself efficiently, it may have to resort to purchasing less fuel for electricity generation or retrench workers.
This is a concern that Duncan says should be worrying for all and sundry.
“What we need to firstly ask ourselves is, have we been enjoying the rights compatible with our thinking and our beliefs over the years?”
GAWU President, Komal Chand, used his opportunity at the podium to firstly extend solidarity with the millions of workers across the world that are being “exploited and oppressed.”
GAWU, he said, is of the view that “we in Guyana have achieved much” but this must not be lost through complacency.
He said that there is “much work to be done and many challenges to be faced, but we must go forward and in our forward march remember solidarity and militancy.”
Chand said, even as workers in Guyana meet to celebrate the gains made over the years, the world situation continues to be gravely troubling, adding that imperialist countries have become even more aggressive in their ways.
He singled out the United States of America which he says continues on its quest for world domination, sidelining other developing countries in the process.
Chand lamented what the U.S. along with its NATO alliance has been doing in countries such as Afghanistan, Libya and Syria among others.
He used the opportunity to also criticise what he called destabilizing activities from reactionary forces such as in the case with the Venezuelan opposition and publicly endorsed the sitting President, Nicolas Maduro.
According to Chand, the forces of reaction are finding themselves hardpressed to achieve their objectives and added that “class struggles are sharpening.”
He says that in today’s world, the working people are fighting back against the harsh policies of the ruling elites.
Once the world crisis persists according to Chand, there will be a continued assault on democratic norms where, “civil liberties are being eroded.”
On the local front,  the longstanding GAWU President said that ever since the previous May Day, Guyana has experienced progress which is evident in the growth of the economy.
Drawing reference to the Finance Minister’s Budget presentation, Chand said the economy remains buoyant even as inflation rates remain tolerable.
Addressing the 2013 Budget, Chand lauded what he called several measures contained, to benefit workers, such as  relief on the income tax payable, mortgage measures for first-time homeowners along with the increasing subsidies to various sectors and social services.
“Budget 2013 contains several measures to benefit workers,” he declared.
“We welcome these and believe more can be done,” he posited.
Chand, who is also a Member of Parliament for the governing PPP/C,  said the recent consideration of the estimates in the House were transformed into “a stage of melodrama.”
He said the combined parliamentary Opposition comprising the AFC and APNU, scissored mainly developmental projects and asked “what constructive replacement they have offered…we are still awaiting answers.”
Chand asked who would be at the greatest loss when construction of a hospital is halted, especially one that is “foreign funded.”
The GAWU President said that with the budget cuts being effected there is a very likely possibility that GPL will have to effect a 17 per cent increase in electricity tariffs.
“How many workers will now be denied employment,” as a result of the cut to the airport project? He asked.
“The country suffers; the working and vulnerable are the losers…This does not augur well for our country,” he said, adding that  “maybe more in mortar than pestle.”
He called the fiasco an “unsettling development in an otherwise proud history.”
Chand also used the opportunity to lament the fractured state of affairs regarding trade unions in Guyana and said “in our division we are weak and the struggles will bring smaller fruit.”
He cautioned that “what is taking place will impact on our lives tomorrow….all working people should demand a bigger say.”
The Trade Union stalwart warned also that long-standing workers need to be more assiduous in demanding their  rights.
“We cannot remain on the sidelines, we must speak up and speak out,” he urged.