Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Stabroek News’ article “FITUG floats tripartite board to end labour college impasse” (March 18, 2008). I take this opportunity to clarify a few points raised in the article.
The original FITUG was established in 1988 to ensure the TUC and government respect workers’ rights. In 1993 FITUG died with the return of its members to the TUC after its Rules were changed to accommodate the participation of every union in the workers well-being at the Central Executive Council level. The 1993 Reunification Memorandum was signed by members of GAWU, CCWU, NAACIE, GB&GWU, GMWU, UGWU and the TUC. I was a signatory to FITUG’s establishment and its unions reunification with the TUC.
The Critchlow Labour College (CLC) is owned by the Trades Union Congress. The College education is influenced by its by-laws and dynamics operating in society at given times. Presently there are campuses in Georgetown, Linden and Corriverton. The College is run by a multipartite Board. Board members are drawn from the Trades Union Congress, government (Ministries of Labour & Education), University of Guyana, public entity and public citizen. The reason behind this inclusive composition is to ensure representation from the various sectors in society that influence the educational direction of the college. We strongly believe that this Board composition will help the College to identify societal needs that would ensure its relevance in society.
Universally there is a principle respecting the right of the owner (s) of every organisation to determine its policy direction. Disregarding this principle would be chartering yet another dangerous path in our society that has dire implications for each and every organisation and member. The proposed position for a “tripartite board,” as per the comment in the SN article, in order to access State funding/taxpayers’ monies, will not only interfere in the conventional principle of organisation determining its agenda, but it would also exclude the CLC benefiting from the influences of others, all of whom the CLC view as key stakeholders in the development of Guyana.
The CLC’s objective is to provide worker education to all. The subvention was given to provide this service and same is in keeping with the constitutional right to education and education cost. The TUC steadfastly believe that worker education is education provided to equip workers (past, present and potential) with requisite skills to effectively and efficiently perform tasks in the development of Guyana, and in the process improve their conditions of living. Education for the TUC is two-fold- it is geared to meet individual and national development, both of which are intricately linked.
For instance, the CXC programmes offers workers (past, present and potential) an opportunity to certified education that would improve their chances in the job market, their conditions of living and contribution to national development. The same argument can be made for those who benefited from other programmes, such as recommended trade union training, those that provide special professional/technical training, allow entry to the University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions. All of these programs fall within the parameter of worker education.
The Guyana Constitution, the supreme law, clearly states that education is a fundamental right to be enjoyed by every citizen. Article 28 specifically states:
“Every young person has the right to ideological, social, cultural and vocational development and to the opportunity for responsible participation in the development of the socialist order of society.”
The new argument advanced by Mr. Duncan that the subvention was taken away because of “poor accountability” is inaccurate. The College has audited statements unto 2006. Copies of these statements were submitted to the government. Similar copies can be viewed by the media and public.
In a Stabroek News’ article of 18th February, 2008, Minister of Education, Mr. Shaik Baksh made it clear that “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.”
While Mr. Duncan’s statement conflicts with the Minster, the Minister should be advised that trade union unity has absolutely nothing to do with the College. Critchlow was established in 1967 by its owner (TUC) to provide worker education to union and non-union members, government and non-government officials, TUC affiliated and non-affiliated workers, persons from all political parties, race, class, greed, gender and other differences. The College has since provided an education that unites across differences, a unity it remains committed to.
No one who understands and embraces rights would support the notion that a government can set conditions that conflict with the Constitution and United Nations Declaration on Rights. Labour leaders are trained to protect rights and advance causes. For a labour leader these tenets are non-negotiable.
New arguments advanced to settle the “impasse,” which is a violation of rights, by intimating that the College should disregard the ownership principle and that its owner must take directive from others and the misrepresentation of its role are regrettable.
At no time, I repeat no time, were “quotas for various labour programmes allocated to unions” and “FITUG members were not invited to take part in programmes at the CLC.” From the College’s inception, principals Oscar Johnson, T Anson Sancho, Phillip Walcott to Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine sent invitations to all unions informing them of the programmes available. This information can be corroborated from the CLC records.
Messrs Carvil Duncan, Kenneth Joseph and others are asked to join with workers in their struggle to ensure that their constitutional right to an education is respected and protected. Let’s collectively say no to the government’s unjust and immoral actions.
I take this opportunity to thank those who have joined the struggle. Please continue to support the workers, as together we can win the battle for a just society.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
Secretary of the Board
Critchlow Labour College
