Dear Editor,
The responses given by the Town Clerk of Georgetown to the most recent strike action taken by the workers under the leadership of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) is nothing short of alarming.
It is clear that the Town Clerk is completely unaware or is proud to ignore the laws of Guyana. He indicated with pride that the Council has consciously decided to undertake the practice of paying the employees whilst withholding the deductions made from them and which he is obligated to remit to the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme, the credit unions, etc; because the Council does not have enough money. Can someone tell the Town Clerk that this practice is not only callous and reprehensible but totally illegal.
If the Council is indeed as impoverished as he claims, why then are they paying him in lieu of a large chunk of his accumulated vacation leave that he has refused to take over the years. Is that not just simply unfair.
Was the Council not as impecunious when he and the Mayor and their delegations travelled around the world first class, staying at the finest hotels and dining at the ritziest restaurants and not achieving or bringing anything back for the city?
If the Council was as insolvent as he claims, why did the Council purchase expensive sport utility vehicles for their bigwigs, provide them with chauffeurs, bodyguards, personal assistants, etc.
How can we believe that the Council is so bankrupt as they claim to be, when they have contracted out most of their services for hundreds of millions of dollars each month without subscribing to tender board procedures, instead of allowing the workers to do their jobs.
But the most unsettling of all is his claim that the strike was orchestrated at this time of their anniversary celebrations by the Union to embarrass the Council. Is this gentleman for real? Is he equating the plight of the workers, including significant financial and medical risks due to piling up medical bills and no insurance coverage and facing tax penalties due to nonpayment of the PAYE contributions to some vacuous celebration?
Is it not just insensate to have a city week of celebrations when municipal workers are perishing, craving and emaciated?
By the way, where is the other so-called union, are they in hiding or enjoying the festivities?
Sincerely,
James Mc Onnell
