Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 02, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
In examining the performance of the Granger/Nagamootoo government, one gets the clear impression that President Granger pronounces on the concepts and areas the administration will embrace, and in so doing, leaves to the Ministers the task of developing and implementing the programmes and activities to realize the objectives. It is noted that since this administration came to office it has been lurching from one crisis to another, with each becoming another ulcer. It is important to note that while some Ministers may make a genuine effort to correct their mistakes, some are prepared to stay in the mode of violating laws and time-honoured principles and trampling on citizens’/workers’ rights.
The President has echoed words to the effect that the citizens must be treated with respect and the laws must be respected. The most recent of such statements attended to the police shooting of citizens, where in effect he said that those who are accused of criminal activities must be brought in alive and placed before the courts. In fact, this supports the position that people are important and must be treated in accordance with established laws, time-honoured principles, conventions and charters. One can have very good ideas, develop a programme and a plan of action, but it can never be implemented without the people and the people’s involvement, and this has to be done within the confines of the aforementioned tenets.
This brings us to the point of two major pronouncements made by the administration within the last week that impacted on organised and un-organised labour. The Ministers involved are Keith Scott who told this nation, including the Guyana Trades Union Congress via the media that he wants one May Day Rally, while Winston Jordan in his Budget presentation announced that the government will address wages and salary through the process of collective bargaining.
When Guyana attained independence in 1966, the Burnham administration in the said year ratified two International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions:-Conventions No. 87 and No. 98. Convention No. 87 addresses freedom of association and speaks of non-interference of the government into the internal affairs of the workers’ and employers’ organisations. Convention No. 98 addresses the right to collective bargaining. The Guyana Constitution enshrines these conventions in Article 147, which falls under the section identified as, “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual.”
One would expect in respect for this historical move by the Government of Guyana, the current ministers would have taken time to understand not only their content but also their spirit and intent. Scott who has responsibility for Labour is on record saying that he is no stranger to trade unionism, a claim the trade union community has no knowledge of. This notwithstanding, what is more of concern is this Minister’s position to openly breach conventions, constitution, time-honoured principles and practices in furtherance of an agenda to seek to direct the business of the trade union community. This will not be countenanced. Conversely, Jordan while making pronouncement on wages and salary in the 2015 Budget, in 2016 he moved to correct this violation by announcing the government will respect collective bargaining and meet with the unions shortly to engage in this process.
A country where laws are not respected will see disunity, mayhem and destruction. It is for this reason the President and Ministers of Government are encouraged to operate within the confines of the law, and seek advice as they move to implement every element of their programme. Setting this tone for the society augurs well for national unity and social cohesion. As such there must be strident efforts to cease operating on gut-feelings or ego. It is understandable mistakes can be made. What cannot be understandable are mistakes that are made because no time was taken to understand and respect the parameters guiding actions or the refusal to correct same.
Workers and citizens are called upon to hold the leadership of the trade union and Government feet to the fire in making sure clear modalities are put in place for the commencement of negotiations; and to see to it Government upholds its role in Labour to ensure a stable industrial environment, which is only possible with respecting citizens’/workers’ rights and the rule of law. There are enough grievances affecting various groups of workers and Minister Scott is well advised to focus his attention there consistent with the stated tenets.
Lincoln Lewis
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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