The withdrawal of the government subvention has left the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) a mere shadow of its former self, but its administrators say they will continue to fight for the release of the funds.
The CLC has lost 90% of its staff and its administration is struggling to keep the doors of the institution open. Administrators told a press conference yesterday they are planning protest action, which will include picketing in front of the Office of the President and the Ministry of Education, to address the withdrawn government subvention. They will also make all of their affiliates and international organisations aware of the struggle.
The Trades Union Congress’ CLC has not received its budgeted subvention since August last year. Though it was approved by the National Assembly, government did not release the funding and its initial explanation was that the college has not submitted its audited accounts. After this was addressed, government said the subvention would not be paid as there was a split in the labour movement.
The college has had severe financial problems, and now only operates on a skeleton staff.
At the press conference, Vice President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Patrick Singh said the union was demanding the release of the subvention for this year. He noted that the CLC had, over the years, provided a second chance at a formal education for many young people.
Any reasonable administration would appreciate this and act sensibly to nurture the nation’s youths along those lines, he said. “Instead, institutions such as the Guyana National Service have been abandoned, while the prison system is being extended,” he said.
Reading a prepared statement, Singh also emphasized that the dearth of opportunities for youth development in the country has peaked to the point where billions of dollars are being spent to contain the same young people who should be catered for in career development activities.
He questioned whether there was a sinister motive in the withholding of the subvention allocated for the college, but reiterated that the union will embark on a series of activities to ensure that its voice was heard.
At yesterday’s media briefing, the GTUC also raised concerns about the hike in minibus fares as announced recently by the Public Transportation and General Minibus Association.
Singh said the issue of public transportation was one that required the dedicated work of a knowledgeable administrator, particularly at a time when operating costs continue to skyrocket.
He said this development has begun to exacerbate the already unbearable cost-of-living challenge faced by the working class.
He said he felt the country’s administration was failing to address pertinent matters of national import in a professional and transparent manner and this has contributed significantly to the avoidable misery facing the nation.
“The Guyana Trades Union Congress demands that the Jagdeo (administration) cease playing cheap politics with Carifesta and concentrate its energies on addressing the bread-and-butter issues affecting the working people,” he insisted.
The union also repeated its call for a repeal of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
(Heppilena Ferguson)
