Dear Editor,
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was indeed most upset and disturbed by the seeming belligerent attitude shown by the APNU/AFC Government’s disapproval of a motion to have reinstated a Ministry of Labour. The motion was tabled by the Parliamentary Opposition following a call that was reiterated by the trade union movement at the May Day 2018 Rally. It is a call which the Guyanese workers, through their representative organisations, have been making over the last three years, but which has largely been ignored despite the several credible rationales provided for going in the direction that the motion proposed.
The FITUG had expected that on this occasion, in spite of previous expressed views — given the nature of the issue and more so the venue where it was raised — the Administration would have soberly assessed the motion and given it support. That expectation was dashed, however, as shown by the contributions from the Government side; and, of course ultimately, its vote in the House. Rather than advancing any convincing arguments for its stance, the Administration tangentially invoked several red herrings, and did not, from our point of view, address the substance of the matter. Maybe this course was chosen because the Coalition Government, we believe, could not defend its indefensible position in not having a Labour Ministry. The noteworthy fact that even the minister reputedly responsible for labour did not contribute to the debate says a great deal.
The outcome, though a major disappointment for the nation’s workers, only served to confirm the Federation’s publicly expressed view regarding the Administration’s anti-working class nature. On too many occasions, we could not have helped but point out the disregard for many of the commitments the Coalition had made to the workers during the elections campaign. Time-honoured and longstanding practices, even international conventions and our country’s laws, have simply been ignored by the present-day Government. Moreover, one cannot ignore the increased cost-of-living burdens workers are now made to bear, which further illustrate the Administration’s unsympathetic view to the working people’s plight. This latest act against the workers of Guyana is just another glaring example of the Coalition’s scant concern for the workers’ interest.
The FITUG, in spite of the Administration’s intransigence, firmly upholds and reiterates its position that a Ministry of Labour is a necessary and required institution. We wish to remind the Administration that actions speak louder than words.
Sincerely,
Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)
