After 30 years at helm of GPSU…Yarde gets Executive Council support for upcoming election

Mar 23, 2017 News

Despite calls being made for President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU),

GPSU members picketing outside the union’s headquarters last Monday (File Photo).

Patrick Yarde to step down after serving at the helm of that organisation for 30 years, he may once again be elected President at the Union’s upcoming elections slated for April 24 this year.
During a press conference hosted at the Union’s Headquarters at Regent Street and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, GPSU’s First Vice-President Mortimer Livan, disclosed that during the entity’s Statutory Meeting which was held less than a month ago, the Executive Council unanimously requested that Yarde contest the Presidency.
Livan said that the Council has pledged to support Yarde.
Over the last few days, Yarde has faced some heat after protestors took to the street calling for him to step down. The protestors also indicated that they are contemplating taking Yarde to court.
One of the protestors, former GPSU Official, Jermaine Hermanstyne said that they plan to challenge Yarde on two fronts in court; that he is 72 years old, and that he has been at the helm of the GPSU since 1987.

GPSU President, Patrick Yarde

Hermanstyne explained that Yarde being 72 goes against the union’s Constitution and he is clearly over the required age to be president. He also made known the protestors’ intentions to challenge the transparency of the elections process that selects the GPSU president.
Yarde was not present at the news conference yesterday; much to the disappointment of media operatives who would have preferred to ask Yarde to personally comment on these criticisms instead of him appointing the GPSU’s Executive Assistant, Indira Thakurdin to speak on his behalf.
It was disclosed that Yarde had other pressing matters to deal with and could not be present at the press conference.
Livan postulated that the picketing exercise by protestors, which includes associate members of the GPSU, is a scheme to embarrass the Union. He posited that the ‘main instigators’ of the protest action have no locus standi in the affairs of the GPSU and are creating nothing but distractions – a “camouflage and a smokescreen to bring attention to themselves.”
He condemned the notion that Yarde was too aged to be President and stated that there is no age limit for one to hold, or vie for such a position.
Livan added that Yarde’s presence for so long at the helm of the Union is a clear indication that GPSU and its members have faith in him and hinted that this confidence will most likely be manifested once again at the upcoming elections. He also condemned comments made about younger persons not being able to progress due to the apparent ‘stagnation’ of leadership

GPSU’s First Vice-President Mortimer Livan (Centre); Second Vice-President, Dawn Gardener (right) and Executive Assistant, Indira Thakurdin at the Press Conference yesterday at the union’s headquarters.

roles at the higher level of the Union.
The election for the leadership and the Central Executive Council is held every four years.
It was revealed that the Council has already appointed an Elections Officer and the advertisements and circulars to the general membership of the elections were already done – in accordance with rules of the Union.
It was stated that only persons who are ‘fully paid up ordinary members’ with effect from May 1 of the year prior to the elections shall be eligible to exercise their ballots. Further, members have a right to challenge the election process if there is a departure from the procedure as stated in Rule 30 of the GPSU’s rules.
The Union’s current membership is approximately 5,000.