THE President and other officers, General Secretary and Staff of the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE) wish to offer enthusiastic congratulations to the newly appointed Minister of Labour,The Hon. Nanda K. Gopaul. NAACIE welcomes most warmly, this elevation of Dr. Gopual ministerial status, besides being a deserving accolade to serve the country at a most decisive level. NAACIE views this Cabinet appointment as a worker- friendly gesture to the nation’s workers because of Dr. Gopaul’s life- long dedication to workers’ rights through trade unionism from his participation in the GTUC and a founder member of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), a break away faction of the GTUC for the strengthening of that the former sole umbrella organisation of Labour, Dr. Gopaul became a stalwart in the struggle of labour representation even against all employers which included Guyanese governments during his active trade union time.

No critic or detractor can contest certain basic facts and accomplishments relevant to Nanda Gopaul,such as  the fact that the Beterverwagting boy pursued an activist role and vocation from the age of 18 or that he was a NAACIE Branch Chairman, Executive Council Member, General Secretary, General President and Consultant at various periods of his long trade union life or that Dr. Gopaul was awarded a scholarship on Human Resources Utilisation by the USAID, studied at Cornell University, the University of Glasgow and read for his PHD in Industrial and Business Studies at the Warwick Business School.

Academic and professional qualifications aside, NK Gopaul has served the nation with his skills and acumen on many Corporate Boards of Directors and being active for some forty years in trade unionism, his suitability to be the nation’s steward of labour is unchallenged.

Naturally, NAACIE feels proud of the appointment of this son and mentor of the union. We feel confident that the new Minister of Labour will bring professional impartiality and objectivity to his role. NAACIE further assures its associates both in FITUG and TUC that Minister Gopaul will respond to their issues, concerns and needs with thorough professionalism.

Congratulations NK Gopaul, onward to your role as the nation’s Labour and Industrial Chief Steward.