The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is unhappy at the time that has elapsed with no clear declaration of a legitimate outcome while acknowledging the importance of the ongoing recount process.
In a release yesterday, FITUG stated that it “dishearteningly” notes that three months have passed since Guyanese went to the polls on March 02, to exercise their franchise and understands that the installation of a legitimate Government is predicated on a credible and transparent election results which remains incomplete at this time. “While we know the ongoing recount process is intent on bringing the process to a satisfactory conclusion and ultimately determine the victor, it is deeply lamentable that the process, so far, has taken such an extended period.”
The Federation has observed that in recent days and weeks, there have been calls for credible results, and while it says it shares the same view, it feels that some have taken a view that can be best described as a “warped connotation.” It asserts that everyone is entitled to their views, but contend that certain principles ought to remain “sacrosanct” and not “bent to suit a certain viewpoint.”
According to FITUG, those who hold those “warped points-of-view” stand with those who have been consistently “harping about certain irregularities” and it wonders whether these “cheerleaders” fail to recognise their folly. It adds that in recent days, quite a few of those ‘irregularities’ have been exposed as falsehoods and are ficticious and further, that the men and women who stand up and call themselves principled and seek to espouse calls about credible elections but yet ignore the many fallacies, causes the Federation at this time, to question their sincerity to upholding democracy, to respect the rule of law and the concept of social justice and equity. “We have to wonder whether it is a case of he who pays the piper calls the tune.”
As far as FITUG is concerned, the ongoing electoral “shenanigans” have been more harmful for working-people and their families, as in recent days, media reports have brought to the public attention the pain and suffering many Guyanese are facing as they confront the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
Reference was made to the Mayor of Georgetown who the Federation says has indicated that the municipality is having difficulty paying its staffers, while the Region Six Chairman has pointed to the hardships that are facing many persons in that section of the country. Apart from that, it has noted that the virtual shutdown of commercial activity has had a significant impact on thousands of Guyanese. Quite a few, it says, have been made jobless and shutdown of certain operations has shut off incomes for tens of thousands.
FITUG reminded that it has been very “vociferous” in calling for an adequate social and economic package to assist the vulnerable and has made several suggestions to the authorities, including tax waivers, direct financial support, and assistance in meeting financial obligations. So far, it informs, no response has been forthcoming and it has also noted that even the State’s hamper distribution was halted without any successor arrangement. It has also observed that Guyanese are being asked to submit requests for assistance, though it remains unknown as to the union body when such assistance would be forthcoming. It added that according to its information, the appropriate assistance has been withheld given the current status of the Coalition Government but takes this explanation “with a pinch of salt,” fully well knowing that the “de-facto Government” has identified some $1 billion to rehabilitate the former Ocean View Hotel.
As the Federation sees it, the current situation strengthens the need for the electoral process to be completed speedily and while it seems that some light at the end of the tunnel is appearing, it sees the calls for the ‘irregularities’ to be investigated as worrying. Reference was made to an examination in the media which revealed that even records provided by the Immigration Department were apparently “riddled” with errors. But what is revealing to the Federation is that the call for the Elections Commission to examine and investigate the objections “is clearly misplaced.” As far as it is concerned, there are statutes that cater for such eventualities and the process to settle such issues are clearly spelt out. “Therefore, we urge that process be adhered to.”
FITUG’s other concern is that the main victims of the prevailing elections “imbroglio” remain the nation’s workers and their families as they are facing the brunt of the hardship and are seeing their standard-of-life slipping away by the day. At the same time the Federation sees any prolongation in the declaration of the results as only serving to further undermine the workers and their families’ well-being. Any pursuit or ploy, it asserts, that would give rise to the installation of a Government that is not reflective of the will of the people would be most harmful to thousands of ordinary Guyanese and reverse several years of development and improvement. “Clearly, we are seeing the situation of when elephants fight, the grass being trampled.”
