The Guyana Public Service Union march planned for yesterday was called off and the union’s first vice president Mortimer Livan said that this was due to the late response from the police.
“We had applied to the police for permission to march today but got the permission at about 10hrs…That messed up with mobilization, we had expected to bring members from out of town but I had told them if by 8am they don’t hear from us…expect to get information by 830hrs but couldn’t get the members out,” Livan said.
In recent weeks there have been scattered protests by public servants at the public hospital in the city and other facilities. The government has not shown any sign so far of a compromise with the union over the 5% payout.
On Friday, roughly 70 public servants took to the streets to protest against the 5% increase that was arbitrarily instituted by Government. GPSU President Patrick Yarde had berated the Government for not acting in the best interest of the workers.
Livan noted however that the protest action will go on today. “We have permission for today. What police had told us is that we have to write for permission for each day so we had written for yesterday and today.”
With regards to Guyana Geology and Mines Commission workers Livan said, “from my last report on GGMC very few people are at work…seems as though they shut down GGMC. Got a letter from the administration asking us to meet with them but we want to meet with our members first. Because of the situation right now we were unable to meet with them today (yesterday) hopefully we can meet with them today,” he said.
The march is set to continue today but no time was announced. The last march set off at 11 am. The route for the march is from the GPSU Headquarters, 160 Regent and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, Georgetown, east along Regent Street, south along Vlissengen Road, west along Brickdam, north into Avenue of the Republic (western half), continuing into Main Street, east into Lamaha Street, south along Main Street, east into Church Street, south into New Garden Street, and into Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.
