By Svetlana Marshall

With the nation still reeling from the tragic death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, today’s Labour Day Rally saw one of its lowest turnouts ever as most unions opted not to participate in the annual march.

Amid a heavy downpour, the President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Norris Witter and General Secretary Lincoln Lewis led a small group of workers through the streets of Georgetown before culminating at the Critchlow Labour College.

Witter, in his address, said he was pleased that despite all odds, the workers gathered, chose to march with the union, and continue the struggle for workers’ rights.

He said while some unions did not see the need to participate in the Labour Day Rally out of concern for their safety in light of the recent unrests, their leaders were “lavishly” dining at State House, while workers continue to suffer.

Witter said it must be remembered that the Labour Movement was birthed out of a crisis, and in times of crisis, Unions must respond most emphatically. The tragic death of Adriana Younge, he said, must serve as a catalyst for change.

“I do believe that Adriana would be the catalyst for a great revolution and Adriana would be the catalyst that would ensure that there would be new faces in high places. And to each and every one of you speak her name! Adriana in every village! Adriana in every community! Adriana in every region! Adriana! Adriana!” he told those present. 

Witter said the State failed little Adriana by failing to protect her, and deploying the necessary resources through the Guyana Police Force to locate her before it was too late.

Declaring that he has no faith in the current regime, the GTUC President said the Irfaan Ali Administration is an example of “bad governance.” He said in addition to poorly administering the affairs of the people, the Government has violated the rights of workers and have shown clear disregard to their unions.  

Witter said for there to be good governance and respect for workers’ rights in Guyana, there must be a change.

“I would wish to suggest to you that if we desire to have a state that would not only respect the rights of workers but will subscribe to the tenets of good governance then there must be a change of the status quo. There must be a change of the status quo. And what do I mean for those who don’t understand, we need new faces in high places, new faces in high places,” he said.

With Regional and General Elections expected within months, Witter urged the workers to campaign country wide for a change in government. He said the time for action is now.

“I believe that the time has come for us to speak less and to do more. It is a time for action! We cannot be talking and talking and talking. What we need to do is to organize, organize, organize,” he implored the workers.

General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis said the time for inclusionary democracy as guaranteed by the Constitution is now, but that cannot be achieved with a Government that consistently violates the fundamental rights of Guyanese.

“We must confront and crush the barriers that hold us back – pettiness, tribalism, division, and the poisonous games of political mischief. Enough is enough. The people of Guyana deserve a nation that lives up to its highest ideals. The time for change is not coming. The time is here. The time is now!,” Lewis said.

He said the state must respect the rights of workers.

“A change where no nurse, teacher, public servant, sugar worker, or miner is treated as invisible or disposable. A change where collective bargaining is honoured, not ignored; where court rulings in favour of workers are enforced, not evaded; and where every citizen’s labour is met with dignity, fair compensation, and protection under the law. Too often, workers have carried this nation on their backs only to be left behind. This must be the end A nation cannot rise if its workers are kept on their knees. The State must stop seeing workers as obstacles and start treating them as partners in progress,” Lewis said.

He said in a healthy democracy, the minority is not an afterthought but rather an active participant. He said in the absence of justice and respect for the fundamental human rights, there can be no real development in Guyana.

Related posts:

Too many unanswered questions remain over Adriana Younge’s death -says AG Nandlall Speaker disallows motion on Adriana Younge’s death over procedural issues with petition Trade Unions reunite in Labour Day march and rally Trade Unions seeking greater partnership with each other to take on labour issues