On the 26th day of May 1966 Guyana gained Independence from Britain and was established as a Sovereign State. It later joined the United Nations and subsequently the International Labour Organisation. Most Guyanese welcomed these developments. As an Independent State the motto “ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY” seemed to find acquiesce, nationally.

Notwithstanding this acceptance, it was well established that there was no genuine commitment by many to this common cause. The major obstacle was the political environment that exploited the tenuous existence largely between the two major components of the country’s small population and which created the challenge to overcome growing racist trends.

This state of affairs which existed significantly before Independence escalated and reared its ugly head each time there was National Elections. At such events, seemingly good relations that existed among our people were openly disrupted and seemingly united communities were torn apart by seething race hate fueled by some political leaders, operatives and followers. This undermined clear thinking and ultimately objective, broad based national development in the interest of all.

This unenlightened, narrow pursuit is generally advocated by those who feel that they have the advantage of attracting the largest numbers of racist support in General and Regional Elections. The end result of such a retrograde action has always concluded in a much divided nation, far less progress and development of the country and its people, as can be noted over the 54 years of the existence as an Independent State. Moreover, a large segment of the educated workforce has opted to migrate or otherwise draining the State of its capacity to develop through nefarious methods, but reappear at times of Elections to undermine the possibility of credible democratic governance, because of their racist ideologies.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as the premier workforce representing public servants, undertook significant action to contribute to correcting this national defect in the relationships amongst our people. The Union amended its objectives and the body of its rules to include “striving for racial harmony and human rights” and the establishment of a Race Relations Standing Committee. On June 7th, 1997, the late Mrs. Janet Jagan, then Prime Minister of Guyana, was invited to address the gathering at the launching of the Race Relations Committee at the National Cultural Center. That apart, the Union did not attract Governmental support, but continued its efforts to promote racial harmony and conflict resolution and will continue to do so.

Currently, our country is at a cross road, at the height of another political and racist rivalry for power. Also, regardless of competence and capacity it is faced with responding to the challenges of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, which is overwhelming the world. Unlike our political situation, the Government and people have very limited control of its impact and implications, but the leadership has continued to aptly manage the situation with limited resources and even less interracial support.

What is clearly ahead are a series of uncertainties and likely crises with detrimental impacts and far reaching consequences. Challenges that would impact on production, the way we work, socialize and our lives in general. Manifesting the need for each other.
As the membership of the GPSU commits to being in the vanguard, paving the way as essential workers, I call on the authorities to be inclusive. Noticeably and disappointingly so, trade unions have been excluded from involvement in addressing this pandemic crisis even though their members’ lives are at risk as they comprise of a significant fraction of the essential workers responding daily to the demands of this pandemic responsibly and with dedication.

To the International Community, the GPSU has noted your involvement in the current political situation here and would advise that your efforts be more merited, genuinely invested in the promotion of racial harmony and enhancement of conflict resolution. This would be more enlightening, purposeful and beneficial for the inhabitants of Guyana. Many Guyanese both locally and abroad look to you for a fair and unbiased overview and assessment and you are also uniquely positioned to have a positive impact and promote unity.

I therefore call on the people of Guyana to be focused and not be distracted by those whose self-interest and narrow pursuits undermine national achievement and development for all. I call on all workers to contribute to the safety, protection and development of our dear country for the benefit of all. I call on all patriots to advocate unity and harmony and to commit themselves to eradicating racism and denouncing, neutralizing and isolating all who promote division.

Let us recommit ourselves to our National Motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
Happy 54th Independence Anniversary to all Guyanese.