– says workers must own a share of national development
President Dr Irfaan Ali says that his Government is developing opportunities that will see Guyanese not only benefiting from improved working conditions but also being able to actively participate in the country’s transformation.
He made these remarks on Friday during a Labour Day brunch hosted on the lawns of State House, Main Street, Georgetown, where scores of workers from various sectors across the country gathered along with Cabinet members and other officials.
According to the Guyanese leader, “We have to develop our opportunities and carve out a specific modus, a specific programme through which our workers can own things. You have to own things. We want the workers to own things.”
“That is why, in all the major opportunities, whether it’s the gas plant or the fertiliser plant or whatever is coming, we are going to develop special mechanisms and incentives so our workers can invest and our workers can own a piece of the assets of the future. That is what we want. That is the next level we talk about.”
Previously, the Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration had committed to ensuring that Guyanese, both here and abroad, have a stake in major projects being pursued as part of the country’s development.
Seeking investors
In fact, just last month, the Guyana Government issued a preliminary call for investors, especially Guyanese, to support two major projects – the cooking gas bottling plant and fertiliser facility, which will utilise natural gas that will be brought onshore via the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Phase Two Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
Investors are invited to submit preliminary Expressions of Interest (EoIs) by May 15 to be part of the entities that will be set up for these energy projects. For the Guyana Ammonia and Urea Plant Inc. (GAUP), which is pegged at US$300 million, the Government is targeting investments with a cap of US$5 million per investor.
Additionally, the Guyana Gas Bottling and Logistics Company Inc (GGBLC), which is estimated at US$40 million, has a cap of US$1 million per investor. However, it was noted that interested parties may indicate the maximum amounts they are willing to invest.
Investors can assume a Government guarantee of a 10 per cent annual return on both projects. Moreover, both GAUP and GGBLC will be private companies and not publicly traded entities.
While the Government is inviting all interested investors to apply, it noted that preference will be given to Guyanese investors, including those in the diaspora.
Diversifying incomes
Nevertheless, during his address in observance of Labour Day, Ali noted that his Government has been focused on empowering families to diversify their incomes sustainably. Key to this,
he added, is the US$100 million Guyana Development Bank.
Targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those led by vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and persons living with disabilities, this state-backed financial institution will offer zero-interest, zero-collateral loans of up to $3 million, with the possibility of an additional $7 million in financing from commercial banking institutions at preferential rates.
According to the Head of State, he spoke with the various labour unions on Friday about moving on to the next stage to “…earn you more money, to diversify your income, to expand your income base, and to give you an opportunity for true, long-term transformation.”
“We love our nurses, our doctors, our medical technicians, our farmers, our clerical workers, our public servants, and our private sector employees. We love you all, but this is a moment in our history when what is ahead of us requires a restructuring of our thinking process. It requires us to understand the moment before us and position ourselves in that moment of transformation, in this moment of upliftment, in this moment of prosperity, and you have a Government that is setting aside the resources, building the ecosystem, and ready to work with you, hand in hand, side by side, to ensure you seize this moment.”
Post-retirement care
Moreover, the Guyanese leader also spoke about creating an environment in which the local labour force is taken care of long after retirement. This, he noted, requires ensuring key services such as pension systems, infrastructure and transport systems, retirement homes, hospitals, healthcare, and recreational facilities, among others, are readily available and accessible.
“A big part of labour, a big part of the trade union movement, is to allow our people to enjoy the fruits of their labour, and your fruits of labour are enjoyed in the level of your retirement, in the type of dignity you have when you retire, and in the type of comfort you have when you retire. That is why we are placing specific emphasis on ensuring we build a system to take care of our elderly,” President Ali stated.
Strong union movement
Also speaking at Friday’s event was Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith, who posited that the labour movement in Guyana is extremely important. He noted that this year’s Labour Day observance is even more significant given the country’s upcoming 60th independence anniversary.
“The story of independence is inextricably connected to the story of the union movement. They really go hand in hand. And so today is a day to reflect on those who have come before us. And remember the sacrifice and hard work of some of our comrades… They sacrificed so much during the union movement. And I want to say that today, 60 years post-independence, the union movement remains strong in Guyana,” he stated.
In the same breath, however, Griffith emphasised the importance of continuing the work of the unions as he lauded those who have contributed to Guyana’s success and development over the years.
Meanwhile, the head of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITUG) – the largest representative body of organised labour in the country – Carvil Duncan, also reflected on the journey of the labour movement in Guyana from 1919, when the first trade union was formed, to 1921, when the first trade union was registered, to today.
“Very soon, Guyana will be celebrating its 60th year. We know as a fact that the trade union movement has travelled a long path… But we have been constant in our development… And we need to realise something else: that the trade union movement and its membership are greater than any political party this country has ever seen,” Duncan stated as he lauded President Ali for his consistent support for trade unions.
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