Dear Editor,
On December (12th) I wrote a letter captioned, “Another political twist” which I called attention to the fact that the Opposition is using the 6.5 per cent wage increase to public servants to further its political agenda.

During the Budget 2024, this was the main focal point and the GTU’s General Secretary and APNU/AFC’s Member of Parliament made sure that this was driven to the hilt. In her opening statement she inadvertently exposed the GTU’s political agenda when she claimed that teachers only hope to transform their lives was “to return the Coalition government to power”.

So the strike is not about the “collective bargaining agreement” being breached or the 6.5 per cent wage increase. She went on to accuse the PPP/C of launching a “parliamentary coup” against the Coalition Government and that the PPP/C became the “first installed regime”, therefore, she does not accept the legitimacy of the PPP/C Government.

Ms Coretta McDonald indeed has exhibited deliberate amnesia with regards to “installed regime” in Guyana. In addition, she shamelessly blamed the PPP/C for the “pain and distress” this nation had to bear after the successful passing of the No Confidence Motion in 2018.

It is no surprise that as soon as the Parliamentary Committee of Supply consideration came to closure that the GTU called a strike even though the grievance procedures have not been exhausted. It was also seen that many of the demands of the teachers were met, yet these were conveniently ignored.

In her 2024 debate presentation she stressed the importance of education in transforming the lives of children and lifts them out of poverty, yet she hypocritically ignored this and called an illegal strike at a critical time when students are preparing for the NGSA exams and the CSEC exams. The completion of the SBA component of the CSEC syllabus is a crucial point. Is this how much the GTU cares about our children?

It is also important to note that the general secretary spoke about a “corporate sponsor” who will fund the strike relief for the striking teachers. Therefore, this was well-planned and it would be enlightening to know who the “sponsor” is.

McDonald’s frequent use of race-baiting with many references to GAWU and sugar workers also expose the GTU’s political agenda. It was also seen that several APNU/AFC operatives can be seen in the midst of the striking teachers-they are part of the teachers strike and this again exposes the strike for what it is.

No doubt this strike called by the GTU is just the beginning of the modus operandi that the Opposition will utilise to try to destabilise the PPP/C Government. Teachers must act sensibly and responsibly and not be used as pawns in this nefarious and villainous power struggle by the APNU/AFC who will no doubt use them to gain power once again and discard them soon after.
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf