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GTUC plans retaliation against Govt’s withholding of subvention
Government’s continued intent to withhold the subvention from Critchlow Labour College (CLC) was yesterday regarded as a sinister plan and one that will soon attract retaliation from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).
At least this was the notion voiced by Acting General Secretary of the union, Norris Witter, during a press conference at the GTUC’s Woolford Avenue headquarters yesterday.
According to Witter, the Jagdeo Administration continues to withhold the $2.2 M subvention from the academic institution which has catered to the learning needs of many Guyanese over the years.
He disclosed that the school is operated at a monthly operational cost of $3.2M, most of which is generated from students’ fees.
Witter noted, too, that the various academic programmes provided at the school are heavily subsidised, even as he added that it was conceptualised with the intent of being affordable to mainly the less fortunate.
He pointed out that among the many renowned citizens who have benefited from the existence of the CLC are the current Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, who today may even be an aspiring presidential candidate.
Witter expressed immense concern that the Government could continue to withhold the much needed funds, a move which has so far had a devastating impact on the institution.
According to him, the CLC has been operating with a skeleton staff, since about 90 per cent of its staff members have withdrawn their services.
Witter attributed this to the fact that salaries are no longer paid on time, and the payment of many staff members is even overdue by a two to three-month period.
And according to Witter, the union will do everything in its power to globally highlight the immoral action which has been engaged by the Government.
He noted that the union has so far engaged the International Labour Organisation and other entities, and will soon embark on a series of activities to ensure that the union’s voice is heard.
Among these activities will be protest tactics which will include industrial action and picketing exercises.
Witter divulged that the union has already made a list of strategic places which it intends to target during these actions. These include the Parliament Buildings, the Ministry of Education, and the Office of the President.
According to the union’s Vice President, Patrick Singh, GTUC is demanding that the subvention for last year, which was approved by the National Assembly for the CLC, be released.
Singh pointed out that the college provides a second grasp at a formal education for many young people who have decided to be a part of the solution to the challenges facing the nation.
He, too, emphasised that many productive citizens have experienced the system first hand.
Singh added that any reasonable administration would appreciate the existence of the CLC and act sensibly to nurture the nation’s youths along those lines.
The GTUC will leave no stone unturned in efforts to address the situation, he said.
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