Dear Editor,
It was Eusi Kwayana who said this confounded nonsense must stop! This statement was made in the 1950s or thereabout in response to the injustices prevalent in that era. In 2008 I borrow this statement and appropriate it to what is happening in the trade union community.
I just read the SN (18/3/08) article “FITUG floats tripartite board to end labour college impasse.” FITUG finally broke its silence on the government wrongfully taking away taxpayers’ money from the College. To this I say this confounded nonsense must stop! Give the children of the college their parents’ money so they can have an education. Many of these children are also taxpayers. Those who aren’t working are using their allowances to purchase goods and services that are VAT inclusive.
How can trade unionist Carvil Duncan and Kenneth Joseph find excuses for the government’s wrongdoing. Compounding their arguments is the confounded nonsense that a course offered by the college which allow workers entry to the University of Guyana is not workers’ education. Hello? Does Joseph understand what is worker education.
The trade union battle songs tell of workers in the field, office and factory. It goes without saying that for each sector there will be education unique to that sector. The office worker needs CXC and university education, Mr Joseph. The factory worker needs technical education provided by GTI, GITC, Guysuco training centre, even the University of Guyana and others.
Mr Duncan commented that “we need to find a solution which will give the government the comfort they need to restore the subvention,” and he proposed that FITUG, the GTUC and Government must control the College as a pre-condition to the college getting its subvention. First, I would like to know why Mr. Duncan is setting a pre-condition for children’s right to an education. Second, I would like to know who owns the College and if Duncan’s position is consistent with the owners. Third, I would like to know if Mr. Duncan is speaking for the government and is in agreement with the government that the trade union has to give up its independence to receive taxpayers’ money. Fourth, does Mr. Duncan feel persons must not disagree with the government or have to give up their rights to have their tax dollars spent on them. Fifth, does Mr Corbin, GLU President General support Mr Duncan that there must be a pre-condition for the right to workers education. Sixth what is Mr Komal Chand’s position on the withdrawal of the college subvention. While Mr. Chand is an Executive member of FITUG, he is a PPP Central Executive Member and Member of Parliament and the one who wields the significant power in FITUG.
Yours faithfully,
Albert Thompson
