Dear Editor,
We refer to Eon Andrews’ letter titled “GTUC executive never had any discussion on closure of sugar estates” which appeared on January 20, 2018, in sections of the media. We of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) should not fail to use the opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ timely statement on the severance pay fiasco and its expressions of solidarity. We also welcome, if our interpretation is correct, the seeming possibility that the GTUC and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana engage with a view to discuss the travails and trials that confront thousands of Guyanese in the sugar belt in an effort to arrive at a consensual position. Our Union is supportive of such an engagement and looks forward to its realisation.
The GAWU also notes that Andrews in his letter, among other things, charged that “[t]he former Government stopped the Critchlow Labour College subvention but ensured that GAWU got a subvention for their Labour College…”. We wish to advise Andrews that contrary to his assertion, our Union did not receive any sums from the former Government for the operation of its Labour College. We hope that this will serve to clear up any misconception and serve to set the record straight.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary,
GAWU
