The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) yesterday elected a new executive body at its fifth Triennial Delegates Conference with a vow to intensify the fight to be recognised by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI).

The new president is Leslie Gonsalves with Ivan Leacock, Micah Williams and Winworth Blair the first, second and third vice-presidents. Rounding out the executive are Lincoln Lewis, General Secretary; Carlton Sinclair, Principal Assistant General Secretary; Oswald Prince, Assistant General Secretary; Nordis Seales, Treasurer; and Joseph John as Assistant Treasurer. Long serving acting president Charles Samson was appointed President Emeritus.

Gonsalves in a brief comment said it was his intention to intensify the union’s actions on the issues the previous executive was pursuing, particularly as regards the BCGI’s move to de-recognise the GB&GWU as the workers’ representative.

Lewis was more vociferous on the issue stating that it was a matter of the “transgression of rights.

“If we allow them to get away with it, it opens the floodgates for many other companies to do it to workers. It’s a question of freedom of association. If you don’t stop it at the trade union level next they’re going to tell you that you don’t have a right to select a government of your choice.”

Lewis said the conference looked at the problems in the major agencies in which it is involved and made a list of recommendations to address these. Additionally, a motion was moved for the rehabilitation of the union’s headquarters at Mackenzie, Linden with the new executive tasked with finding the funds.

There was also call for investment in an off-road vehicle to service those areas outside Linden.

Lewis added that they also decided that the new body needs to address pension, a medical scheme and housing for workers outside of what the employers were offering. Another decision was for the establishment of a three-man committee to come up with ideas on how to strengthen the secretariat to effect better research and communication in this information age.