THE Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) joins with the world and especially all South Africans in mourning the passing of the South African leader and hero, Comrade Nelson Mandela.

Comrade Mandela’s work and actions inspired many freedom fighters in South Africa and beyond. In his lifetime, he suffered a long and brutal incarceration, but never became embittered and revengeful. He devoted his life to fight for the Africans, he fought against colonialism and imperialism, but this struggle transcended the world. For his stand for National Liberation and against Apartheid he was incarcerated for 27 years of his life. Most of his years of imprisonment were served in the infamous Robben Island prison. Shortly after his release from prison, he was elected to be President, making him the first democratically elected President of South Africa. During his mandate as head of the African National Congress (ANC) led Government, South Africa became one of the countries that embraced a democratic culture and the prestige of the country grew in the world.
His tireless fight for human rights around the world and especially in Africa earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. His struggle has been a reference for peace in many countries. The world’s working class, the poor, the dispossessed, those languishing in the ghettos of the world and those who today live with apartheid have a great debt to Mandela and will find in his life story great inspiration. His fight was not in vain. His examples and his works will certainly serve to strengthen all of us who today strive for a better world.
We have lost one of the most significant personalities of the struggle for a different world which highly values social justice, equality, human rights, world peace and without capitalist exploitation, without racism. Mandela will continue to be present in our struggles and will remain as a timeless example for the working class and to the world for freedom and full human dignity.