Dear Editor,
Permit me to respond to the letter of Mr. Norman Faria, Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Barbados, titled `Mr. Lincoln Lewis should be more constructive when speaking about his country abroad’ (SN 6/10/2008).
I am not the President of the Guyana Public Service Union. As General Secretary of the Caribbean Congress of Labour I articulate the mandate of the organisation as was done in my message at the 7th Biennial Delegates Congress of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) held in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Mr. Faria, a Guyanese, resides in Barbados and enjoys a good quality of life, characteristic of the Barbadian society, that is ranked among the most prosperous in the region. This lifestyle is made possible by successive governments striving to respect the rule of law, uphold their citizens’ rights and implement sound developmental policies. I do not believe Mr. Faria does not agonise over the fact that his Barbadian lifestyle is not enjoyed by his fellow Guyanese at home. But similar success in Guyana can only come when Mr. Faria joins me and others in facing the truth, calling a spade a spade, and holding those responsible accountable. This is a constructive and factual discourse the country yearns for.
Selectively misquoting/ misrepresenting me is unfortunate. The issues I raised in my message at the Barbados Congress were publicised recently by me in Guyana in a Human Rights address. Mr. Faria asked if I am not ashamed about the things I said at the Congress. I am ashamed at what has come to define life in Guyana. It gives me no pleasure to speak about these shameful transgressions; but speak I must.
The issues in Guyana are the daily transgressions of rights by the politicians, government, and joint services; the failure to ensure that democracy is of, by and for the people; violation of labour principles and practices; high unemployment; cronyism; erosion in real wages; break-down in the rule of law; denial of subventions to the Guyana Trades Union Congress and Critchlow Labour College; extrajudicial killings, murder of citizens; increased criminality; hired guns; the protection of narco-traders; suppression of independent media; incarcerating and silencing dissenting views.
Guyana’s case is very unique and it would be an abrogation of my responsibility to speak, anywhere, about upholding human rights in the region and ignore glaring human rights violations at home.
Calling me names will not offend nor deter me. Name calling is a hazard that comes with the terrain and often used by the status quo to continue their oppressive practices.
As a labour advocate I articulate the workers’ positions, guided by the rule of law, ILO and UN Convent-ions, and the Caribbean Charter of Civil Society. If for any reason, any country, breaches those tenets, I shall speak about them, name the issues and those involved in these transgressions.
I answer to the workers of the region and shall continue to fearlessly advance their cause at every forum, in every country.
I am not the public relations machine of any government and more so cannot herald the Guyana Government, given its track record.
Note is taken of Mr. Faria’s cunning attempt to give the impression that there is discord between named individuals in the Barbados community and me.
I assure Guyanese, and remind Mr. Faria, that my message was well received and evoked spirited discussions as to the state of affairs in Guyana.
If my address unsettled Mr. Faria, whom I am sure also deeply loves this country, as Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Barbados, his is the responsibility to let the Government know its actions are inimical to good governance, have implications for its citizens and the region, and should be addressed forthwith.
Lincoln Lewis.
General Secretary,
Caribbean Congress
of Labour
