The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has urged the unconditional acceptance of the rulings of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) regarding the validity of the December 21 no-confidence motion against the government and the appointment of the elections commission chairman and has urged leaders to find a consensual way forward.
“The landmark rulings, in our view, have provided final answers to several important questions which have occupied the national space for many months now. We were heartened that the CCJ has provided, what we felt were, clear and unambiguous answers to the questions that were posed. The FITUG, recognising that we have the answers we sought at hand, sees that we need to now put in place the necessary arrangements to address the consequences of the rulings to ensure that there is full compliance with the Constitution of Guyana,” the trades’ union body said in a statement on Wednesday.
The CCJ on Tuesday ruled that the no-confidence motion brought against the David Granger-led APNU+AFC administration was validly passed with the votes of 33 members of the 65-member National Assembly last December, thereby compelling the resignation of Cabinet and the holding of general elections. In a separate ruling, the court also found that the process used to unilaterally appoint Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission to be “flawed” and unconstitutional. In its statement, FITUG noted that from media reports prior to the ruling, the respective parties had pledged to abide by the verdict, whatever it may have been. However, it said, while it has observed general statements committing to abidance, at the same time, it appears, that acceptance, from some quarters, have now come with certain conditions.
“Those conditions, in our view, belie previous statements and their import should have no bearing now. We hasten to call on all concerned that the rulings be accepted without the imposition of any condition whatsoever,” FITUG said.
The statement said that FITUG recognises that the Justices of the CCJ have given Guyana’s leaders an opportunity to arrive at a consensual way forward. “The FITUG certainly looks forward to this opportunity being fully grasped and maturity, at this time, be displayed as we seek to put Guyana and its people first,” the statement said.
“In our view, the rulings which have provided clarity now and in the future as well represent, too, a decisive victory for democracy. The Federation cannot fail to point out that the road to restoration of democracy was long and arduous and one that was paved with the struggles of the Guyanese working-people, among others. The FITUG will continue to observe the unfolding situation as we urge that respect for the rule of law remain paramount,” it added.
