-to craft plan for life without gov’t subvention

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has appointed a new Board to manage the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) even as the institution remains starved of the annual government subvention.

Economist, professor Clive Thomas was appointed chairman while Dr Michael Scott will serve as head of the academic committee on the board tasked with developing new strategies to execute its mandate. The other Board members are management consultant Aubrey Armstrong, who will lead the team for systems and development and Christopher Ram who has responsibility for finance and planning. George DePeana has been appointed registrar, the first person to perform such a role. He has been tasked with developing new trade union education, Board Secretary Lincoln Lewis revealed.

As part of its mandate, the Board will host a two-day planning session where stakeholders will develop a strategic plan. The Board is also expected to address the challenges and come up with solutions to some of the College’s problems.

Lewis told Stabroek News that despite the setbacks the College has faced stemming from the withdrawal of the yearly grant which had always been allotted, the CLC remains committed to providing trade union and workers education. The absence of the vital government funds has resulted in an almost 80 per cent staff reduction and a 50 per cent cut in student enrolment.

The government has since put forward several reasons for the withdrawal of funds. These include the question of accountability, trade union unity, the management of the institution as well as a call for the college to return to its original mandate.

In response to a question about whether the Board would be willing to host discussions with the government on the issue, Lewis said it would have to make that assessment. However, he said there are currently no engagements in this regard. “What is going on now is more politics that anything,” he said, when asked about where things currently stand. Lewis believes that the government’s objection stems from wanting to control the College. “It’s no different to how they treat the city council. They withhold funds to prove that the people running the council are incompetent. So they want to prove that the people running this college are incompetent too,” he explained.

Lewis also said he believed this behaviour is embedded in the political operatives of the country. “So we are seeking ways in which we could move ahead and not wait for them to come through with the subvention,” he said. Lewis admitted though that coping without the subvention has been difficult, though some agencies, which requested anonymity, are coming forward and helping the college.

The Board Secretary said too every year preceding the withdrawal of funds, the college has submitted a prepared plan to the Ministry of Education so the administration was fully aware of its operations. Lewis said the CLC is very proud of its track record and its pool of impressive alumni around the world. He said the College would continue to offer similar opportunities for the many individuals who desire another opportunity to achieve their dream.