Dear Editor,
“Minister of Education Shaik Baksh says the fractured trade union movement has to resolve its issues as a pre-condition for further subventions to the Guyana Trades Union Congress and the Critchlow Labour College” SN 18/2/2008.
Why is the government holding the education of children and workers to ransom? Why is the government engaging in victimisation? According to the United Nations Declaration, education is a human right. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (ROC) specifically says that children must have equal access to education that recognises their special needs. CLC is uniquely satisfying that need.
The UN sets no pre-condition for enjoying human rights. Guyana is a member of the UN and the government’s act is a clear transgression of the UN declarations.
The 41 year-old College from its formative years has been the beneficiary of government funding as part of its role in national development. As an independent body registered under the Company Laws of Guyana the CLC cannot be linked to unity/disunity in the trade union movement. A review of its by-laws would show that its aims and objectives are different from that of the TUC. The College is managed by a Board comprising representatives from the TUC, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, University of Guyana, a public institution and person from the public. Union affiliation is not a pre-condition for admittance to the College.
In every sector and every discipline in this country there are persons who benefited from an education provided by Critchlow Labour College.
The political trade unionist Mr Komal Chand, GAWU President, PPP Central Executive Member and Member of Parliament should be concerned about the government’s decision. Mr Chand can attest to his Union having access to, and being the beneficiary of CLC education under the previous government, inspite of its political association. The time has come for him to make a public statement in the name of human rights, labour education and principles.
Prior to Mr Baksh’s ministerial appointment he was an educator and taught at the University of Guyana. The Minister would have taught and interacted with students who came through the CLC. He knows about the universal importance of education and is aware that the ROC Convention says government “must consider all actions taken in the light of the best interests of the child.”
Both Messrs Chan and Baksh have been the beneficiaries of educational opportunities and employment in inspite of their differences (disunity) with previous political administrations. They should not now by their actions make it be seen that they are complicit with this anti-human rights act.
An urgent appeal is being made to UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, diplomatic community, political parties, academic community, analyst Freddie Kissoon, newspaper columnists, trade unions, Guyana Human Rights Association, Red Thread, private sector, Right of the Child, ERC Chairman Juan Edghill, religious community, past and present CLC students, other CLC fraternity, parents, Social Sciences Dept of the University of Guyana which has the largest intake of CLC students, all sections of the media and other stakeholders to speak out for the education of our young people. To stay silent and allow the government to deny the children and workers their right to an education is to support the denial of a basic human right.
Yours faithfully,
M A Bacchus