Speaking at his post-cabinet media briefing yesterday, Luncheon said that the recent publicized move by the bauxite union “to label the government as racist and politically inclined in its actions regarding this evolution of industrial unrest at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) … has been deemed reckless”. He declared that to take the charge to the Ethnic Relations Commission for consideration is obnoxious.
Last week the union wrote to the ERC asking it to “to commence a public inquiry into charges of discrimination” against BCGI. In its complaint to the ERC, the GB&GWU said BCGI is a company owned by United Company RUSAL and the Government of Guyana. The basis for this inquiry, the union argued, was due to discrimination on the “grounds of race and political geography”.
Yesterday, Luncheon said that the resolution of the industrial unrest could not be promoted by these “false, unconvincing and reckless charges”.
He stated that reports received are that the workers are on the job and the company is producing bauxite according to its plan. The Cabinet Secretary said it is evident that the relationship between the company, the union and the workers need to be addressed in a meaningful way and “this excursion to inflammatory charges and the move to the ERC by no means qualify as such a meaningful intervention.”
