FITUG calls for suspension of electricity, water, Internet bills for 6 months

COVID-19 impacts

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is calling for the suspension of electricity, water, and Internet bills over the next six months as Guyanese feel the brunt of the implications of a partial national lockdown as part of the country’s efforts to combat the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The union representative body on Tuesday lambasted the authorities over their response to the pandemic and its economic impacts, saying the response thus far was substantially lacking.
As such, FITUG in a public statement reiterated its call for a comprehensive social and economic package to be formulated and implemented at this time.
Among the measures being proposed by the union body is a wage guarantee so that no worker suffers any loss of pay, and the Government should lead by example as well as work with private employers to ensure that employees do not unduly suffer.
FITUG, in its proposal, called for support to the self-employed and the jobless to ensure they were able to sustain their obligations and maintain their families.
This was in addition to a complete waiver of the income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) for at least six months to cushion the hike in the cost of living.
FITUG also demanded that Government work out arrangements with companies offering hire purchase, commercial banks and other lending institutions for a suspension of payments for six months as well as rescheduling debt obligations of workers and writing off the indebtedness of the unemployed.
According to FITUG, its call comes on the heels of the fact that the authorities – without even a hint of forewarning – imposed a curfew on the evening of April 3, 2020.
The union representative body said “while we accept there may be good reason and rationale for such a decision, the order appears to be rushed and devoid of some important considerations…Our contention in this regard has been borne out by the necessity to offer several clarifications and to make amendments in the subsequent hours”.
According to FITUG, “It causes us to be concerned whether every and all elements are taken into consideration when making decisions in this crucial period. It’s hard not to wonder whether seat-of-the-pants decision-making is, seemingly, being employed. If this really is the case, as it seems to be, this can only bring about more harm.”

Wide-scale testing needed
Additionally, FITUG used the occasion to call on the authorities to institute widescale COVID-19 testing, starting with the most likely to be exposed, saying “we see this as a means to get a better handle of the situation and thus be able to overcome the crisis in a shorter period”.
The Federation said, “This approach, we are aware, has been pursued elsewhere with great success and should be an essential component of our national response…We also urge too that the tests’ results be known to medical professionals as soon as they are available…This, we believe, will prevent a lag in treatment which could be critical in saving lives.”