Dear Editor,
We refer to Mr Eon Andrews’ letter titled `GTUC executive never had any discussion on closure of sugar estates’ which appeared in the January 20, 2018 edition of Stabroek News. We of the GAWU should not fail to use the opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for the GTUC’s timely statement on the severance pay fiasco and its expressions of solidarity. We also welcome, if our interpretation is correct, the seeming possibility that the GTUC and the FITUG could engage with a view to discuss the travails and trials that confront thousands of Guyanese in the sugar belt in an effort to arrive at a consensual position. Our Union is supportive of such an engagement and looks forward to its realization.
The GAWU also notes that Mr Andrews in his letter, among other things, charged that “[t]he former government stopped the Critchlow Labour College subvention but ensured that GAWU got a subvention for their Labour College…” We wish to advise Mr Andrews that contrary to his assertion, our Union did not receive any sums from the former Government for the operation of its Labour College. We hope that this will serve to clear up any misconception and serve to set the record straight.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary
GAWU
