The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) joins with the Christian community and all Guyanese in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The season comes at a time when the world is experiencing a pandemic that has brought sorrows to the lives of many. It comes at a time of growing disparity between rich and poor nations, the privileged/connected class, and the working class who are falling more and more into the class of the working poor.

A religion founded to revolutionise man’s thinking and interaction with others, built on the teaching/principles/values of equality and redemption, finds a world where disparity and injustice reign supreme and the condemned practices of the Scribes and Pharisees returning to preeminence. The principle of Christianity that prides itself on being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers are waning and considering this, GTUC urges the return of Christ to Christmas.

Where His birth and teachings are premised on equality, justice and fair play, these values would become meaningless when observed in the breach and lip service paid at significant calendar events such as Christmas Day. GTUC enjoins all not only to celebrate Christ’s beginning (25th December), but to give true meaning to its representation in our day-to-day lives.

The equality which protects the individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms to be treated with dignity and respect includes the right to worship in peace, the right to work, freedom of association, legal justice, to own property, economic advancement, and all other inalienable rights. Respect for equality will ensure systems are but in place to ensure social, economic, and political justice for our fellow man, be it at an individual, group or institutional level.

Treating with each other fairly will contribute to creating a just society and guaranteeing the equality of all. Whether it be the family, workplace, civic group, or government, where the tone is set in ensuring rules and standards grounded in universal principles of equality, peace and goodwill to all mankind can be assured. The best exemplar in this regard remains Christ, whose teachings and actions were even handed in conceptualisation, application and implementation.

Thus, the peace and goodwill this yuletide season brings us must not only be for merriment, but committed immersion in the role each and every one of us must play in giving true meaning, year round, to the principles Christ’s life and work exemplified.

May Christ’s values continue to shape and influence our lives.