Dear Editor,
Kenneth Joseph, NAACIE’s President and FITUG’s General Secretary in a letter captioned “Opposition walkout sends the wrong message to the nation” (08.03.03) attacked the Oppo-sition for walking out of parliament, saying it is sending the wrong message to the nation.
But how can FITUG take this position. Mr. Robert Corbin, Leader of the PNCR and the Parliamentary Oppo-sition, is also leader of the Guyana Labour Union, a member of FITUG. The GLU’s General Secretary is FITUG’s President. It is not unreasonable to conclude that in the realm of organisational behaviour FITUG unions would have met and agreed on a unified FITUG position to present to the stakeholders meeting. It is also not unreasonable to conclude that Mr. Corbin or his General Secretary, Mr. Carvil Duncan, would have played a key role in framing FITUG’s agenda. What is unreasonable to conclude is the sincerity of FITUG’s attack on the Opposition.
The attack leveled on the Opposition by FITUG defies logic. It is a little farfetched to believe Mr. Corbin would have disagreed with FITUG’s position and misled his party. Could Mr. Joseph then be referring to some within the Opposition, such as the AFC and GAP/ROAR who so far have projected significant leadership in the stakeholder arena. In this crucial and troubling moment of our country’s history can our leaders spare us further agony by coming clean.
People believe the entire Opposition walked out of Parliament because of the refusal of the PPP parliamentarians to include in its stakeholder agenda efforts or elements that would ensure collective participation of all. Stabroek News editorial aptly (April 3, 2008) reflected this belief, and yet another missed opportunity by the government to include the Opposition and other stakeholders to ensure meaningful participation by all citizens in improving the country’s state of the affairs. However, if the PNC is playing games, as Mr. Joseph maybe implying, its leadership should re-read the SN editorial for its message and the desire of a battle worn people.
Violence, be it by criminals and/or the state, has no place in development. The nation cries out for an opportunity to enjoy democracy and progress. The government should pay heed to the many comments (letters, editorials, etc) imploring them to reach across the divide consistent with the Guyana Constitution and Caricom Civil Society Charter. Though some of us may think otherwise, we are interlinked and because of this chained relationship we either sink together or swim together. It is foolish to think, as currently evident, that some will sink while others will swim ashore.
Yours faithfully,
Hector C. Burnette Jr.
