The opposition APNU+AFC has castigated the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for a skit at their weekend congress which ridiculed the recent teachers’ strike.
The skit was also flagged by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) which said that it will respond.
A statement from the opposition yesterday said: “We, in the APNU+AFC, view the insensitive, crass and callous skit that was dramatized by misguided PPP members in full view of their leaders including the Ministers of Labour and Education as being most distasteful, disgusting and disingenuous. The skit is a clear demonstration that the PPP is anti-workers (teachers), uncaring and that is out of touch with the many challenges faced by our teachers every day in and out of the classrooms”.
The statement added that it also shows that anyone who stands up to the PPP will be targeted for attacks.
“This administration must understand that that action and their involvement in diatribes like these are tantamount to being discriminatory, reckless and irresponsible. The nation must raise its voice in condemnation”, the statement said.
APNU+AFC said it is disappointed that the Congress, the highest decision making forum of the PPP, descended into a roadside comedy show and a mere sham, as it offered nothing of substance to benefit the people of this country.
“On the contrary, the Coalition has always seen our teachers as being important and critical to Nation Building and will always hold them in high esteem. As such, we call on the PPP to offer an apology to our teachers for the insensitive demonstration during its Congress”, the statement added.
Teachers held a four-week strike from February 5th to press for collective bargaining. The government tried to squelch the strike declaring its intent to deduct pay from strikers and to discontinue deducting union dues on behalf of the GTU. The GTU went to court and secured a ruling from Justice Sandil Kissoon which said that the strike was legitimate and that the government was prohibited from subtracting monies from striking workers and ceasing the deduction of union dues. It was the most significant victory for a union here since the 1999 public service strike and has led tension between the supporters of the government and the union.
