Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton on Monday called on the Government to respect the rights of workers, as he urged public servants to not allow themselves to be carried away by the hand-outs from the Government, when they deserve much more. He made the comments while addressing the Labour Day Rally hosted by the Guyana Trades Union Congress at the Critchlow Labour College.

“I want to urge you as workers not to be carried away by silly handouts. They cannot take you out of poverty. What is needed, is measures that can take out people out of poverty. You can have $5000 now, $150,000 unless you have programmes that are going to put you in business, unless you have programmes that are going to educate the worker, improve their professional capability so they can contribute significantly,” Norton said.

The Opposition Leader submitted that the country’s oil resources should be used, in part, to ensure that every single worker receive a minimum liveable income.

In keeping with the theme for this year’s rally – ‘Building a strong progressive union to respond to the challenges’ – the Opposition Leader said in order to respond to the challenges, persons must understand Guyana’s changing landscape.  

“The landscape in Guyana is changing. A few years ago, we were a state dominated economy, now, while there are still some state enterprises a lot of economic activities are within the private sector. It therefore follows that the trade union has to be organized in the private sector because there will be need for the counter balance to protect workers’ interest,” he reasoned.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades’ Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis, underscored the need for the labour movement to remain united and a force to reckon with.

“It’s that force which this oppressive regime fears and over the years using every means necessary, they have sought to undermine, dismantle and destroy.   Comrades, they have attacked us on every front, they have divided us, first splitting the GTUC and creating that mockery of an umbrella body to serve their purpose and not that of the workers they represent. It’s all a sham!” he said.

Lewis said the labour movement is among the Government’s targets for oppression, marginalization and denial of economic and social equity and justice; denial of a living wage, better conditions of work and protection of workers’ rights in ‘oil rich’ Guyana. 

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