— Condemn those snatching food from our mouths, GAWU head urges

THE President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Komal Chand, has stressed that the working people’s struggles in defense of their interests must go on.

He told some 300 workers at the May Day Rally organized by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) at the National Park in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, that the workers must not allow their present unity to be undermined.

“Our class feelings and solidarity compel us to condemn forcefully those who are snatching food from the mouths of our fellow workers and destroying their livelihood,” he said as he referred to the $37.4B that were cut from the 2014 National Budget.

According to him, May Day, 2014 came with a mixture of good and bad news; and while the criticisms of the Government are acknowledged, workers must recognise the current Administration’s “passionate defense” of the working class, and the development programmes that are now affected because of the cuts.

He said, “There is a feeling that our people and country have been short-changed by the results stemming from the 2014 Budget considerations. The debate was generally good, but for the third consecutive year, the results were not. On one hand, the Government presented the biggest budget ever; on the other hand, the combined opposition made the biggest cut ever.

“…Jobs, development projects, expansion of services, and Amerindian and interior development projects are likely to go down the drain as in 2012; so in 2013.”

WORKERS NOT AMUSED
The GAWU head questioned how Guyana would advance in the face of a third year of the Opposition budget cuts. Chand said: “What informs this urge to halt our development and thwart efforts to blaze a trail for a better future for our people and youth?

“If our parliamentary gladiators want to give our nation a spectacle when budget time comes around, they should know that the working people are certainly not amused.”

According to him, Guyana’s working class does not want to be stagnated economically, and does not want to be suffocated by “sterile excuses and hollow explanations” for putting a brake on the wheels of progress.

“We still have poverty in our country, and we have the resources that can go towards its eradication, as well as resources to attend to the improvements of the life of Guyanese, and also resources to contribute to the country’s development. Let us tread this path regarding our resources with care,” he said.

Chand called for attention to be paid to the nation’s economic sovereignty, relevant safeguards, optimum returns on investments, and transparency and accountability.

He maintained that the “history-making and inspiring” events that occurred 128 years ago, which gave rise to the observance of May Day, are still challenges that workers battle today.

“As we follow the developments of today, much of the experiences of a century and a quarter ago are again replayed, albeit in a new and different context. The working class, youth, students, and pensioners again find themselves at the centre of class struggles raging in different corners of the world,” he said.

FIGHT BACK
Chand, however, pointed out that in spite of these challenges, there are “counter currents and trends” reflective of a fight-back.

“Workers and small farmers, women and youth, the poor and oppressed, are in many countries and at several fora, and in diverse ways, resisting the march of the imperialist juggernaut,” he said.

“This wave of resistance and fight-back is scoring significant victories, proving that the spirit of militancy and struggles that saw the birth of May Day is still with us; and despite the efforts of reaction over the years, it has not been dampened or neutralized.

“…the recent developments in our nation are telling. They tell us that new challenges are appearing in our path. We must be ready to face up to them.

“At this time, we see the need for our working people to stand united. We must be ever vigilant, as the confidence tricksters and fraudsters still lurk in the shadows, waiting for opportunities to fulfill their political agenda and ambitions,” he cautioned.

The GAWU head gave assurance of his union’s support for the struggles of the workers. He said, “We have stood, as we stand now, with the forces for peace, democracy, social justice and social progress. In today’s conditions, world peace has become urgent.

“Likewise, solidarity with our class brothers the world over, we see as uncompromising. Difficult as the situation may be, we must continue our work; and march on, filled with confidence that the victories and achievements of today foretell of greater victories ahead.

“On this May Day (Thursday, May 1), GAWU sends out militant greetings to all workers and working peoples of Guyana, and their genuine representatives. We express our solidarity to our own working people and the working and oppressed peoples the world over in their struggles against wars and a capitalist order; and for bread, justice, peace, democracy, independent development and progress.”

Chand also appealed to the working class to “cherish that inheritance”; that is, to be firm in the belief that a new day will dawn only out of their consistent struggles. “History’s final verdict is yet to be made,” he said.

The GAWU General-Secretary was among three trade union leaders who addressed workers at the annual May Day Rally. Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, was also present at the rally, and made few remarks.

(By Vanessa Narine)