Trade unions must be alert to those bent on undermining democracy, President Donald Ramotar declared yesterday at the opening of the Fourth Delegates Conference of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), while saying government will never imperil the interest of workers.
At the ceremony, held at the Regency Suites on Hadfield Street, Ramotar said that trade unions must denounce attempts to destabilise the country, while President of FITUG Carvil Duncan said that the conference was taking place at a time when democracy in Guyana is under threat.
“A simple majority is trying to [reverse] the gains of the country,” Duncan said, referring to the combined opposition majority. “It is a betrayal of the Guyanese people and of the Guyanese workers,” he added.
Ramotar cited FITUG as one good example of how the trade union movement should be organised. “While the government respects the right to strike and will defend that right, it should be used responsibly and only as a last resort, [not as a first step],” Ramotar said, adding that the government remains committed to dialogue with a view to finding solutions.
The government’s concern for the workers goes beyond just the level of remuneration, he said, while emphasising the need for their full development so that they would be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. He spoke of the work of the government in providing house lots to workers so that they can add value to their lives. He also mentioned the work the government is doing in health and education.
Meanwhile, Duncan said that Guyana has been paying increased wages when many countries have been forced to slash wages in a bid to save jobs.
He also praised the Skeldon factory of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which he said has performed well despite the critics.
However, it was Duncan’s declaration that there was no corruption in Guyana that caused the audience to wince. He said that there is bribery but no corruption “period.”
Duncan also knocked the opposition for casting blame for the shooting to death of three Linden residents during a protest on July 18 on the Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee. “Casting blame on the Minister is unacceptable. Blame [for this] must be cast at the feet of the opposition,” he said. “The Minister of Home Affairs’ performance over the years has been without blemish,” he added.
Duncan also asked when there would be local government elections, since the city is in a crisis and new life is needed to make the Georgetown Municipality function the way it should. He lamented that persons in the employ of the Mayor and City Council have not yet been paid for the month of October.
The FITUG conference was held under the theme “Workers’ Right to Secure Food and a Clean Environment.”
