THE People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) is the major party in the APNU+AFC coalition Government, and is the only party in this group with previous Executive experience. For this reason, it is expected that it would not only influence the policies and programmes of this Government, but would play a leading role in defining for this country what governance is all about.

Over the years, the party’s congresses have paid attention to three major areas, and allowed the public an understanding of the state and direction of the party. These areas are:- the composition of the attendees at the opening; the issues discussed and decisions arrived at; and the direction/charge given by its Leader.

The PNC, over the years, has touted its credentials as “the vanguard party”, and has brought on board a big tent arrangement, where every demographic in this society could have seen representation or felt its issues matter in shaping the party’s policies and defining its programmes.

Major stakeholders in this society, such as the cooperatives, farmers, trade unions, religious community, and youth, were not there as serious participants seeking to shape the direction of the party towards influencing governance. For instance, a constituency that voted overwhelmingly for this party to be in the Government is the Upper Berbice River, in Region 10.

The Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) is situated in this area. Residents of communities adjoining the BCGI’s continue to be discriminated against by the management, and the fundamental right of BCGI workers to have representation by a trade union of their choice has been denied for more than seven years and counting. It is instructive to note that this issue was never discussed at the Business Session of the congress; neither can a sentence be found in the Leader’s address making reference to it.

Rights are paramount, and take precedence over everything, including money. It is for this reason that anyone who had followed the history of the PNC would have expected the BCGI matter to be raised, discussed, and a decision taken as to the way forward. It is this party’s Founder Leader, Forbes Burnham, who as Prime Minister travelled to Kwakwani (KK) in November 1969 and ordered the Reynolds Bauxite Company to end all discriminatory practices against residents, workers and their communities.

When Burnham arrived in KK on that day, he walked through every street, and met, greeted and listened to the concerns of the people. After the walk-about, he called a community meeting for the residents at the Workers’ Club, and sought to address the common complaints that were made.
Some of these complaints had to do with Reynolds having in place different shopping days for different categories of employees and residents; determining who could have access to treatment at the hospital; and moreso, who could have lived in certain sections of KK.

Burnham listened to the complaints attentively, and while addressing the community, he pronounced that these discriminatory practices must come to an end. Thereafter, the company dismantled every discriminatory practice Burnham spoke of and the people complained about. This is the history residents and workers of the KK community have experienced and have come to associate the party and its leadership with. Those who did not have the benefit of such experiences have been told the stories by those who had.

Another worker/management issue is that of government workers, including sugar. Engagement with the trade unions was honoured, as was their right to represent their membership. Public servants form an integral support base for the party. The Government and unions representing public servants are locked in negotiations for increased wages/salaries and improved working conditions. What is being observed is that the PNC did not demonstrate leadership in delivering an opinion as to how the Government ought to treat with issues of Labour/Management relationship.

As a trade unionist, I am aware that the party has within its ranks an industrial relations community comprising seasoned practitioners, who would meet and advise on issues that impact on Labour/Management relationship. I am advised this no longer exists in the party. Where the party and Government are no longer guided by such relationship, it brings clarity to the constant crises it faces in dealing with industrial relations’ matters.

The PPP and PNC came out of the belly of the trade union movement. It is the first time that this party is in Government without a trade unionist within its fold, be it in the Executive or National Assembly; or having within its leadership a person steeped in industrial relations. Being a vanguard party means that it has to return to its roots, involve every interest group, and work towards factoring their welfare as a matter of importance in the nation’s growth and development.