Occasional association with GAWU President Komal Chand was good enough to arouse my interest – and curiosity – a few years ago.
I was interested in various aspects of his history, status and outlook – these days. “Was?” “These Days?”
Back then his critics contended that Chand was never a “bona-fide”, grass-roots sugar worker and that his being a PPP Member of Parliament and Party Executive would compromise his loyalty and effectiveness in truly representing sugar workers and, indeed, the hundreds of other GAWU members.
Frankly Speaking, I know that both concerns could be countered – even demolished, if necessary. Though experience has its advantages, representation also benefits from skilled negotiators and professional expertise developed as situations arise and evolve. History is now replete with politicians who were or are, efficient, dedicated trade unionists. There are occasions when their political/governmental connections can actually be assets!
Thrilled that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is (still) the largest trade union in the (English-speaking) Caribbean and that its President frequently sounds independent-minded, even severely critical, of the President of Guyana whose Party they both share, I decided to zero in on Chand’s recent May Day address.
I can’t fool myself that Komal Chand will not want his PPP to win yet another elections, but how should I assess his stated positions on some crucial trade union-related issues, very sensitive to the socio-political realities of Guyana. I choose a few hereunder.
Global capitalism,
local elections
To me Chand never gives up on the Socialist orientation which Cheddi embedded in the Old Guard. Recent economic chaos born of capitalism’s unregulated greed, reinforces the views of leaders like Chand.
This is his hopeful refrain: “The hundreds of billions of dollars ploughed in by the primarily developed States to save the system has only resulted in the rich getting richer, while the poor and the workers face increasing suffering, austerity measures, cuts in education, and other social expenditures and so on.
The neo-liberal model based on outright privatization, deregulation, division of the working class, among other features, lies in tatters. It is discredited and bankrupt. Those myopic politicians, who were lured or pressured into buying into this model and who sold it by various pretexts, today, are seeing the results of growing poverty, unemployment, rising prices, and food insecurity and various conflicts are being, more and more, isolated by their working peoples.
In this day of reinvigorated struggles by the international working class, fresh hopes are awakened for a future of better tomorrows and an alternative world order where the masses of working people will have a decisive say.”
Well-intentioned, almost idealistic hope. But I contend that the world’s rich and Guyana’s powerful will, continuously, find ways and means to keep the working-class powerless. The poor also often join, or turn to the criminal networks of the rich to enter their kingdoms of wealth.
Instructive too, was Komal Chand’s position on our upcoming elections. As I’ve opined, he’s a dyed-in-the-wool PPP man but one would be hard-pressed to fault his neutral-sounding advice to the working-class voters of the land – (?) knowing that GAWU has hundreds of non-PPP, paying members in its ranks. Said Chand: “The working-people and their eligible families, along with pensioners, most certainly, will comprise over eighty (80) per cent of the voting population, making it, as a bloc, the largest. The upcoming elections, therefore, presents an opportunity not only for workers to vote for the Party of their choice but for the working people to call on the contesting Parties to outline and articulate positions and policies that address their general interests and concerns. Such expectations should be based, not simply on their voting numbers, important as that is, but moreso on the knowledge that the working people constitute the power that drives the engine of growth that makes plans, small and grand, into realities.”
From crime to college
He did describe as “ugly features”, local crime, violence against women, illegal narcotics, gun crimes and corruption, which, he reminded his comrades, now tend to “overshadow the country’s gains” since ’92.
Pity that President Jagdeo absented himself when his topmost trade unionist was speaking! But it was heartening when Chand reiterated his call for the restoration of Government’s subvention to the Critchlow Labour College (CLC). However conditional!
And the only comment I’ll make here about Chand’s call for trade union unity, is that that unity might become reality only when two or three just democratic demands by FITUG are dropped! Discuss…
My reason for using Chand’s May Day remarks? Because it was still refreshing to hear a leading unionist contextualize our own problems against a global background, whilst attempting to guide the nation’s managers about “the way forward”.
I know full well that there are many, especially within this period, who see Chand’s Party – and therefore, Chand – as part of, or the cause of the problem. They would advise that he leaves that Party, perhaps?
A national disgrace on Mothers Day
If you observe those specially-created “Days” like Sunday’s Mother’s Day, hope you enjoyed what you did or what was done for you. Sadly I know of one family who could not locate their mom’s grave because of the Le Repentir overgrowth. Another overseas father had to contend-unsuccessfully – with the garbage!
I had also seen a letter from another bereaved and aggrieved overseas Guyanese on that very matter. The major public cemetery in Georgetown constitutes a national disgrace and is a symbol of our national grossness, our acceptance of mediocrity, our lowered moral values and our collective resignation to most of what officialdom does – and leaves with us.
And-tell-me – would you want to be Mayor or Councillor of our capital? In this state of utter disgrace?
************
Ponder carefully…
*1) Consider – just who has the most responsibility for getting unregistered citizens daily registered during this claims and objections period? GECOM, political parties, the courts – or citizens themselves?
*2) Christopher Ram scares me when he writes about the millions allegedly about to be lost by places like the NIS. Hoping he’s wrong, I wish the “authorities” would refute!
*3) For the record, I regard two recent letters to the press, by Messrs Hinds and Lowe regarding what Afro-Guyanese should be accorded, as about “the most reasoned” they’ve contributed.
*4) I have a cricketing friend who claims to know much about Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s personal problems. Now the “Tiger” contends with WICB officials. How can he concentrate on a century? Best wishes still, West Indies
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
I was interested in various aspects of his history, status and outlook – these days. “Was?” “These Days?”
Back then his critics contended that Chand was never a “bona-fide”, grass-roots sugar worker and that his being a PPP Member of Parliament and Party Executive would compromise his loyalty and effectiveness in truly representing sugar workers and, indeed, the hundreds of other GAWU members.
Frankly Speaking, I know that both concerns could be countered – even demolished, if necessary. Though experience has its advantages, representation also benefits from skilled negotiators and professional expertise developed as situations arise and evolve. History is now replete with politicians who were or are, efficient, dedicated trade unionists. There are occasions when their political/governmental connections can actually be assets!
Thrilled that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is (still) the largest trade union in the (English-speaking) Caribbean and that its President frequently sounds independent-minded, even severely critical, of the President of Guyana whose Party they both share, I decided to zero in on Chand’s recent May Day address.
I can’t fool myself that Komal Chand will not want his PPP to win yet another elections, but how should I assess his stated positions on some crucial trade union-related issues, very sensitive to the socio-political realities of Guyana. I choose a few hereunder.
Global capitalism,
local elections
To me Chand never gives up on the Socialist orientation which Cheddi embedded in the Old Guard. Recent economic chaos born of capitalism’s unregulated greed, reinforces the views of leaders like Chand.
This is his hopeful refrain: “The hundreds of billions of dollars ploughed in by the primarily developed States to save the system has only resulted in the rich getting richer, while the poor and the workers face increasing suffering, austerity measures, cuts in education, and other social expenditures and so on.
The neo-liberal model based on outright privatization, deregulation, division of the working class, among other features, lies in tatters. It is discredited and bankrupt. Those myopic politicians, who were lured or pressured into buying into this model and who sold it by various pretexts, today, are seeing the results of growing poverty, unemployment, rising prices, and food insecurity and various conflicts are being, more and more, isolated by their working peoples.
In this day of reinvigorated struggles by the international working class, fresh hopes are awakened for a future of better tomorrows and an alternative world order where the masses of working people will have a decisive say.”
Well-intentioned, almost idealistic hope. But I contend that the world’s rich and Guyana’s powerful will, continuously, find ways and means to keep the working-class powerless. The poor also often join, or turn to the criminal networks of the rich to enter their kingdoms of wealth.
Instructive too, was Komal Chand’s position on our upcoming elections. As I’ve opined, he’s a dyed-in-the-wool PPP man but one would be hard-pressed to fault his neutral-sounding advice to the working-class voters of the land – (?) knowing that GAWU has hundreds of non-PPP, paying members in its ranks. Said Chand: “The working-people and their eligible families, along with pensioners, most certainly, will comprise over eighty (80) per cent of the voting population, making it, as a bloc, the largest. The upcoming elections, therefore, presents an opportunity not only for workers to vote for the Party of their choice but for the working people to call on the contesting Parties to outline and articulate positions and policies that address their general interests and concerns. Such expectations should be based, not simply on their voting numbers, important as that is, but moreso on the knowledge that the working people constitute the power that drives the engine of growth that makes plans, small and grand, into realities.”
From crime to college
He did describe as “ugly features”, local crime, violence against women, illegal narcotics, gun crimes and corruption, which, he reminded his comrades, now tend to “overshadow the country’s gains” since ’92.
Pity that President Jagdeo absented himself when his topmost trade unionist was speaking! But it was heartening when Chand reiterated his call for the restoration of Government’s subvention to the Critchlow Labour College (CLC). However conditional!
And the only comment I’ll make here about Chand’s call for trade union unity, is that that unity might become reality only when two or three just democratic demands by FITUG are dropped! Discuss…
My reason for using Chand’s May Day remarks? Because it was still refreshing to hear a leading unionist contextualize our own problems against a global background, whilst attempting to guide the nation’s managers about “the way forward”.
I know full well that there are many, especially within this period, who see Chand’s Party – and therefore, Chand – as part of, or the cause of the problem. They would advise that he leaves that Party, perhaps?
A national disgrace on Mothers Day
If you observe those specially-created “Days” like Sunday’s Mother’s Day, hope you enjoyed what you did or what was done for you. Sadly I know of one family who could not locate their mom’s grave because of the Le Repentir overgrowth. Another overseas father had to contend-unsuccessfully – with the garbage!
I had also seen a letter from another bereaved and aggrieved overseas Guyanese on that very matter. The major public cemetery in Georgetown constitutes a national disgrace and is a symbol of our national grossness, our acceptance of mediocrity, our lowered moral values and our collective resignation to most of what officialdom does – and leaves with us.
And-tell-me – would you want to be Mayor or Councillor of our capital? In this state of utter disgrace?
************
Ponder carefully…
*1) Consider – just who has the most responsibility for getting unregistered citizens daily registered during this claims and objections period? GECOM, political parties, the courts – or citizens themselves?
*2) Christopher Ram scares me when he writes about the millions allegedly about to be lost by places like the NIS. Hoping he’s wrong, I wish the “authorities” would refute!
*3) For the record, I regard two recent letters to the press, by Messrs Hinds and Lowe regarding what Afro-Guyanese should be accorded, as about “the most reasoned” they’ve contributed.
*4) I have a cricketing friend who claims to know much about Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s personal problems. Now the “Tiger” contends with WICB officials. How can he concentrate on a century? Best wishes still, West Indies
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
