Dear Editor,
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) on 24th September 1998, following engagement with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government on the border issues with Suriname and Venezuela, submitted to the said Government recommendations aimed at strengthening the country’s resolve to respond to these challenges. The matter of Venezuela’s continuous aggression towards Guyana, which in recent days has been amplified by that country’s announcement it is moving towards a referendum on 3rd December to claim two-thirds of our territory, requires institutionalised and sustained responses in various manner, along with the input of every individual and stakeholders.
Below are the GTUC’s recommendations, as submitted to the PPP/C Government, which the Congress retains an abiding interest in:- The establishment of “a fixed body” comprising specially trained and qualified Foreign Service Officers and specialists in international law, languages, defense policy, hinterland development and other relevant disciplines to continually monitor and make recommendations on the status of Guyana’s frontiers; Collaboration between the departments of government and international affairs at the University of Guyana and state institutions responsible for the formulation and execution of frontier policies.
The development of modern and reliable communication links between frontier communities and the capital; Vocational training schemes for hinterland and frontier communities designed to equip residents for employment which may evolve from local or foreign investment; Sustained supervision of trans-frontier trade activities to ensure that these are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the national interest; The creation of a regime of special incentives to encourage local investments in hinterland communities and more particularly at frontier locations; The planning and execution of a sustained public information initiative to sensitise Guyanese residing in frontier to the territorial claims against Guyana.
The formulation and execution of development plans designed to reduce the dependency on hinterland-based Guyanese on neighbouring states; The creation of a Youth Empowerment Scheme which creates incentives for young people to occupy the hinterland of Guyana with a view to the establishment of viable and sustainable hinterland communities; The cultivation of a culture of professionalism and excellence in the field of diplomacy in Guyana in order to properly refine Guyana’s most effective weapon in the defense of its territorial integrity- the diplomatic weapon; The rehabilitation of Guyana Archives on frontier issues, particularly those documents which relate to Guyana’s territorial integrity.
Official recognition of the role of Guyana’s mining community and other communities engaged in economic activities in the frontier regions in the defence of Guyana’s territorial integrity; The formal introduction into the schools’ curriculum of courses of studies on Guyana’s frontiers and including studies on the territorial claims against Guyana; Government support for economic activities, particularly agricultural pursuits, undertaken in the hinterland of Guyana; Practical support for efforts by the First Peoples to maintain their heritages in a sustainable manner. GTUC believes these recommendations are still useful and for this reason are placing them in the public domain.
Sincerely,
Lincoln Lewis
General Secretary
Guyana Trades Union Congress