Dear Editor,
I respond to Michael Maxwell’s letter in Stabroek News (January 8) titled ‘If enough African-Guyanese return to their capitalist roots Guyana’s economic future will see improvement.’ As a trade unionist I hold dear the principle that each and everyone has his/her unique potential and such potential can best blossom in an environment that respects rights and the rule of law. In fact the foundation of every modern society is built on this principle. Nations are run by governments which are the custodians of the rule of law and rights, and therefore tasked with the primary responsibility to ensure these are respected thereby creating the enabling environment for all to prosper according to his/her respective definition of prosperity.
It is no secret that rights and the rule of law are under siege in Guyana.
My argument and fight has and will continue to be for the respect of the rights of workers (past, present and potential) consistent with the rule of law, international conventions and time-honoured principles which will allow any worker the opportunity to unleash his/her potential in whatever he/she chooses. It is not my responsibility to tell anyone which field of economic endeavour he/she should gravitate to, or participate in. The constitution guarantees the right to work, prosperity and freedom of choice. Labour views every form of legitimate work as contributing to its goal of full employment. It matters not whether that person is an employer, employee, self-employed, private or public sector worker.
The point I am consistently making is that there are many instances of Africans who have chosen their respective field of endeavour and have been met with the deliberate and calculated roadblocks of this government. A revisiting of my writings on the issue of economic empowerment would see cases cited of people seeking opportunities as employer, shareholders, cooperative, self-employed and employees in both the private and public sector. I have cited the case of bauxite workers who wanted their pension fund of more than $2.5 billion to be used for the creation of an investment fund where they could borrow at competitive interest rates; bauxite workers wanting to buy out the state-owned Bermine; and some businessmen wanting to lease Everton Plant from the Government of Guyana. In Everton’s case the plant is lying idle with both the calcine and dryer rotting! The government prefers to have them rot than give the African businessmen an opportunity to create work for themselves and others.
On being employees, bauxite workers have their pension and thrift plans destroyed by the government and tax-free overtime stopped by the government. The traditional public servants continue to be disrespected as a group and the government continues to disregard their rights to freedom of association, and collective bargaining.
Turning attention to the more than two-month old strike at Aroaima one would see the hands of the government giving tacit and overt support for the disregard of the rule of law and the transgression of bauxite workers’ rights.
On self-employment I cited a case of an African businessman who wanted to own a prime property in Georgetown, and had the state-run Privatization Unit adhered to its established rules, as the second highest bidder that African businessman should have been given first preference after the highest bidder withdrew.
On property ownership a motion taken to parliament to regularize African properties bought in the immediate post-slavery era was rejected by the governing parliamentarians who used their majority to throw out the motion.
Opportunities for a second chance at a secondary school education and advanced learning are being limited to those desirous of same with the government’s refusal to obey the law and disburse the subvention that was passed into law via the national budget. Similar treatment has been meted out to the Guyana Trades Union Congress in an attempt to limit the potential of a section of organised labour to their constitutional rights in national decision-making and protection of workers’ rights. Since then the government continues to deny taxpayers their money to invest in their development.
Careful study or understanding of societal power structure would reveal that the realization of the stated projects/proposals/operations/opportunities have to pass through the government bureaucracy which would have to give the green light. In all instances these were rejected.
I am not in the business of making excuses for Africans. The facts are there for all to see!
Having been around the PNC and PPP administrations I can say with conviction this is the first time in Guyana’s history there has been such a complete effort to marginalize a people economically. It may offer comfort to those with a political agenda, a penchant to mangle history or perpetuate the myth of the lazy African but there is enough evidence in the public domain to nail this lie. I have only touched the surface.
I have chosen my battle and shall not deviate. Those who have their view(s) for pursing African empowerment are encouraged to do so. There is enough space in the battlefield for another soldier. Pitch your tent and get to work!
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
