Dear Editor,
An entire community of Guyanese has been placed at risk from the recent violation of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) threatening to remove workers and their families from Maple Town. This cannot be allowed to happen in Guyana. The Russian management of BCGI must not be allowed to exploit our resources and in the process violate Guyanese and disrespect our Laws. Not here in Guyana!
120 bauxite workers, including their families, who permanently reside in the residential location at Aroaima, owned by BCGI were issued an edit, via circular, last Friday afternoon (15th February) to immediately vacate the community. The company hired buses to facilitate the move to enforce its edict. The children of these workers attend the nursery and primary schools in the area. The surrounding communities are dependent on the workers.
Last Friday workers proceeded on strike after BCGI’s failure (since 2009) to respect their rights to a union of choice and collective bargaining. The further act of seeking to physically dispossess them is not only lawless, inhumane, vindictive and uncalled for but a violation of their conditions of employment. Every act of the worker remains consistent with Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution.
Workers have ignored the edict and are resolutely standing their ground. They, along with their families, remain within Maple Town. The Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Security, now has the responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being in the area and immediate environs since their lives have been made untenable by management.
Other workers who live partially on site have had kitchen services taken away from them. These workers spend two weeks on site and leave for their days off. It is evident in the management thinking that workers can be brought to their knees by depriving them of food. This tactic will not break the indomitable spirit and will of those who are committed to struggle for their freedoms. The many examples of history are on their side.
Today, Monday 18th February, there is expected to be a meeting at the Labour Department at 10:00 a.m. to attend to the grievances. The meeting is at the invitation, via letter dated 15th February, of Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle to the Union and BCGI management. GB&GWU shall attend confident, the Laws are on the workers’ side.
GB&GWU is on record saying the stalemate is much more than that of an industrial nature; it has elements of ethnic disrespect, political bias, political inaction and disrespect for Guyana’s sovereignty (Laws). Friday’s act by management, in closing down critical areas of operation (mining and maintenance) and ordering workers and their families out of the town, has escalated the contempt.
The Government of Guyana has joint shareholding interest in BCGI. It must be mindful that whatever is being done by management is also done in its name. Guyanese, home and in the diaspora, must not countenance the continued violations. Enough is enough or as one striking worker said, if we don’t stand up now and fight, we won’t be able to fight in the future! That worker echoes the conviction of citizens of the world who believe in the benefit of respecting basic right of freedom of association.
GB&GWU, on behalf of the aggrieved workers, continues to ask for your solidarity. Every voice added in condemnation to the transgressing of rights and violating of just laws is a voice necessary in the fight for justice here and everywhere.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
General Secretary, GTUC & GB&GWU
(Former General Secretary, Caribbean Congress of Labour)
