Trade union federation blasts Lincoln Lewis for dictatorship advocacy

…says Lewis, Hamilton Green “cross the line” in shunning Constitution

Recent comments from Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis and former People’s National Congress (PNC) Prime Minister Hamilton Green have come in for sharp criticism from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

Lewis, President of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU), appeared on a radio programme with a known APNU/AFC activist on Monday, and implied that President David Granger can take action against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) if it declares the Recount results.
FITUG has questioned what message Lewis has been sending to employers. However, FITIUG on Wednesday said Lewis has long advocated embracing the Constitution, and is known for his consistent advocacy of the constitutional provisions that seek the involvement of civil society in governance.
“Therefore, we find him now calling on the President to act not only contrary but to throw away the scared rules of our land deeply disturbing”, the Federation has said. According to the Union, “What message is Lincoln, as a trade unionist, sending to employers? What would be his reaction to employers ignoring conditions set out in Collective Labour Agreements? We have to wonder whether he fully considered his remarks.”

According to FITUG, the comments from both Lewis and Green destroy what little is left of their credibility, and FITUG noted that while Green has tried to backtrack on his comments, Lewis has remained silent.
FITUG made it clear that while these persons are entitled to their own political views, both of them have crossed the line.
“We consider it wholly unacceptable for anyone, much less persons such as Messrs Green and Lewis, to advocate openly for the President, or anyone for that matter, to throw away the Constitution,” FITUG added.
The umbrella union body has cited the Preamble of the Constitution of Guyana, which states: “We the Guyanese people…forge a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broad-based participation in national decision-making in order to develop a viable economy and a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice, human rights, and the rule of law…”
FITUG noted therefore that to seek to wish those sentiments away is highly irresponsible. According to the union, all Guyanese are obligated to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Guyana. Their views, as expressed on Mark Benschop’s ‘Straight up live’ programme, therefore have no place in modern society.

The trade union body has said it holds that comments by both individuals certainly do no credit to their credibility, waning or not. “As persons who have been in the arena for as long as they have, they ought to have known better and definitely acted with more responsibility. They certainly must shoulder the blame for their comments, and no pacification can erase the dark blots on their characters.”
It added: “We hold that Guyana, as a democratic society, must uphold and abide by our Constitution and all laws. To seek to disregard or to ignore the rules, as some now openly seek, cannot be considered proper in any modern society.”
During Monday’s airing of ‘Straight up live’, Lewis had spoken about his expectations for GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh. His expectations include that the Chair can withhold her vote from the six-member partisan commission if the declaration of the results came to a vote. He had then suggested that President Granger can intervene in the work of GECOM, if it “fails the people of the country.”
“The Constitution spoke about a President. And that President has executive responsibilities and duties. And the President has to look on this country and look at what is taking place. He has a responsibility to ensure that peace and tranquility run through every sector of this country,” Lewis said.
“And if the Election Commission’s actions are inimical to the interest and intent of the Constitution and the ethos of this country, then he will have to take action. Whatever form it is. We can’t have an election that is marred with discrepancies, that we consider as rigged…Mr. Granger will have to take action if the Election Commission fails the people of the country.”
On the other hand, Hamilton Green, a former Prime Minister under the PNC regime, said during a recent interview on ‘Straight Up Live’ that Granger should “…do what is necessary. Put aside the Constitution [and] put aside the laws. You are, at this moment, and will be for a long time, Commander-in-Chief. Take action so that your people, our people and the people of Guyana, will honour you, no matter what it costs.”
There was a swift backlash to his words, which were even described as advocating for a coup d’état. Green has since apologised for his words, calling it a lapsus linguae; that is: a slip of the tongue. (G3)