People who are in the same struggle with their fellow citizens but stand with their oppressors are part of the root of why many people in this country are set to remain in poverty. Divide and conquer is an evil that has been used perhaps since the beginning of time to keep a minority in power and the majority in a state of hopelessness and want. We see it clearly in Guyana.
The Guyana Teachers’ Union nationwide strike began on Monday. It has been reported that over six thousand teachers are standing and demanding better salaries. These actions have resulted in schools across the country being closed.
On Monday when the strike began the Ministry of Education’s social media page worked tirelessly to display their animosity regarding the actions of the teachers on strike by posting pictures of schools that were open. They attempted to create a narrative that the strike was having no impact while thousands of the nation’s children remained at home. We the people have seen pictures and videos of teachers across the country taking a stand and the numbers have increased with every passing day.
The easily intimidated and the threatened remain at a disadvantage in this country. There are those who will support any action of the government whether it makes sense or not or benefits them or not.
Those who will let their bodies rot if it means they do not have to take a stand against the government or their political party. That is a prison I wish to never know. One where they muzzle themselves and ignore the whispers in their hearts telling them what is right or wrong or fair and unfair. As we would say “Dey stifling dey conscience.”
The government has said that the strike is illegal. Was it also illegal in 2018? I do not know how long it has been illegal to strike in Guyana, but it is not surprising that this is the position they have taken. It appears that they want no opposition – like they want the Guyanese people to be totally submissive to a few human beings.
What is illegal is that Guyana is one of the fastest growing economies, where millions of US dollars are earned every day from oil alone and still there are thousands of Guyanese who cannot adequately feed, shelter and clothe themselves because they are not paid a living wage. What is illegal is that the servants of this nation have created ‘Animal Farm’ and we the people have allowed it because many are not brave enough to come together and say “Enough!”
Those of us who use our common sense know that the strike is not illegal. It is unfortunate that we the people cannot expect that the government’s first response would be to listen to the teachers, negotiate and work hand in hand to find solutions.
‘Because We Care’ should not only be a cash grant. The fact that the approach is to attack, belittle or call the actions of people standing for their rights illegal tells us what we need to know about who really cares about the people. They care but they tell the people not to strike. One can conclude that ‘pressure must not buss pipe’ in Guyana, but people should simply sit, be abused, bullied, and endure hell until death.
It is because they care that there are ongoing efforts to discredit the teachers, call them ungrateful and selfish and create other false narratives on day four of the strike when I am writing this. It is because they care that they have threatened to cut the already inadequate salaries of teachers who decided to strike. It is because they care that they have decided that they will no longer be deducting and remitting union dues from teachers’ salaries to the Guyana Teachers’ Union. Vindictive? Spiteful? This is who they are?
It is because they care that they have sent police to check schools to see which teachers have joined the strike. The Guyana Police Force continues to be used to oppress and violate the rights of the people.
It is because they care we have seen videos of children holding umbrellas while sitting in a classroom in Bartica because of leaks when it rains. The ministry boasts of building new schools which we welcome, but what about fixing all the schools that need to be fixed? They will paint the narrative that all the Guyanese children have access to the same quality education, but we have seen the evidence that it is not so. Because they care priority is given to the “top schools’ while those considered unimportant, barely existing, where dreams die, struggle for the basics.
These attempts to make teachers seem like they are unreasonable for wanting better salaries and in many instances better working conditions, reveal how little regard there is for those who do a major part of the work to shape our children and therefore the future of this country. If politicians can have salaries and allowances that allow them to live the good life teachers deserve that too.
Teachers do not deserve the disregard that has been shown to them by the Ministry of Education since this strike started. The children who are at home because of the strike do not deserve to have their schooling interrupted because a government is stubborn, refuses to engage or negotiate and pay better salaries. Teachers do not deserve the threats that they have received.
The treasury is not the personal bank account of any government or political party. Why can’t right be done by all the Guyanese people? It is wickedness to run a country where you do little or nothing to make sure the citizens of your country are not struggling unnecessarily. It is wickedness when no minister can even comprehend living off a couple hundred US a month but expect the average public servant to do so. It is wickedness to discriminate and threaten to cut teachers’ salaries because they have decided to stand for their rights and demand better for themselves.
It is unity that will get the Guyanese people what they deserve. I guess the government wants teachers and other public servants to wait until next year when miracles and generous offers are expected since it is an election year. They will not only dangle carrots but feed them to the people expecting that they will forget how they were mistreated. It is the audacity of those who think they own the country and the people, thinking that they deserve chance after chance to disrespect, disregard, and create conditions that impoverish a large section of a nation as wealthy as this.
