THOUGH its Annual May Day March and Rally, usually held on May 1, has been cancelled, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) will still start off Labour Week with the customary wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Hubert National Critchlow, in the Parliament Buildings compound, Brickdam, on Sunday April 26 at 16:30hrs.
The wreath laying will be done by just two persons, the General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis and President, Coretta McDonald, and a message will be delivered, the union said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

This year would mark the 101 anniversary of the trade union movement in Guyana. GTUC is one of the country’s largest trade union umbrella organisations and would usually organise the rally alongside fellow trade union umbrella organisation, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

May Day rallies have been cancelled due to COVID-19, where social gatherings are prohibited by law. “This year, it would have been held next Friday. Government’s guidelines and safety concerns about public gathering surrounding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) would negate the sort of march and rally usually held to commemorate this historic event,” the GTUC statement said.

Earlier this month, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) had also indicated the cancellation of its rally.

This year, Labour Week runs from the April 26 to May 1, and is celebrated under the theme “Economic, Political and Social Transformation Post COVID-19.”