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No talk of a plan of action
Financial situation in Guyana…
– GTUC president
President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Gillian Burton, says that so far there has been no talk of a plan of action to get Guyana out of the increasingly worrying situation facing the country.
According to her, all that is being put forward are excuses and explanations. Burton added that this is now unnecessary as everyone is fully aware of the state of affairs.
She also noted that having taken a look at the entire situation there is need for a tripartite process making way for social dialogue.
GTUC President Gillian Burton
“There is a need for a process which will involve the major stakeholders – the private sector, the manufacturers, the government and the trade union representatives.”
According to Burton, there is urgent need to have these discussions not for formality but to have a complete economic analysis and assessment as it regards to the critical situation within the country.
“Coming out of those discussions we need to immediately map out a plan of action that will take Guyana out of this.”
Burton said that the GTUC is further proclaiming its concern that there is a national financial, economic and industrial relations crisis which, if not urgently addressed, will lead to a social catastrophe.
She also stated that major sectors of the economy are going through trying times. Burton noted that the rice industry is experiencing problems relating to the high cost and the unavailability of chemicals, machinery and equipment.
“The result of this comes to the loss of income base which triggers off to family deprivation and other troubling issues due to frustrations.”
She added that farmers are complaining that they are not given a chance when they attend the national forums to voice their concerns since these forums are basically hijacked by high-powered individuals and many of the persons there prefer to remain silent because they fear harassment should they publicly express what is bothering them.
“Within the sugar industry they too are experiencing problems as regards to salaries and incentives and poor representation which comes about because of the fear of victimization if they are seen as very militant and not in support of the administration.”
The timber industry, she pointed out, is also suffering great loss due to the high cost of fuel especially diesel and all of this is despite the tax rebate that they are given.
“There are concerns also over a long period of time of preferential treatment being given to foreign investors in the industry who are exempted from every labour law and regulation in Guyana and are exempted from the constitutional responsibilities such as the payment of NIS. Within the bauxite industry also continues to crumble and recent the unease at the RUSAL company between the workers and management there has given need for much concern.”
According to Burton, workers there are seeking answers to the concerns that they have, and these concerns are justifiably based on what they have been witnessing globally on the bauxite market.
“The management due to their global plight in the industry is seemingly threatening to discontinue their operations here due to the financial situation that they are experiencing.
“What has become paramount is the immediate need for both parties to sit and discuss feasible arrangements which will benefit all.”
Burton added that the GTUC has recently had discussions with the Guyana Manufacturers’ Association, which revealed their great concern for the nation’s economic slide.
“What is alarming though is that there are complaints of fear to voice concerns by these business persons and this has been a very unbelievable fact, since I believe democracy as we preach it gives way for freedom of expression.”
However, Burton added, this seems to be a negative within that area.
She stated that the CLICO crisis has added to the woes of the country since an immeasurable number of persons have lost hard earned money in what now persons perceive to be another financial scam in Guyana.
Burton noted that there are many credit unions that have invested monies within the CLICO industry as recent as November and December last year, and they too have lost monies, which came from workers.
And, she said, the National Insurance Scheme concerns just added salt to the already gaping wounds of the nation.
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