PRESIDENT BHARRAT JAGDEO

May 01, 2009 News

President Bharrat Jagdeo

It is once again my pleasure to salute workers and their representative unions here in Guyana as they commemorate yet another Workers’ Day, May Day 2009. I wish to reassure them at this time that their Government is fully committed to the protection of their rights, the preservation of other gains earned, and the continuous improvement in their working and living standards.

As workers in Guyana observe May Day 2009, their celebrations would no doubt be tempered by the realization that their colleagues in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean, are facing grim times because of the global financial crisis. Millions of workers in some of the richest countries of the world are now on the breadline having lost their jobs, their homes and the standards of living to which they were accustomed.
Others have had to make sacrifices such as reduced hours of work and pay in order to preserve their jobs.
Guyana is not immune from the possible contagion effects of this crisis, but we have not been as severely affected as other countries. We have in the past made interventions within the local economy to safeguard the interests of workers and to protect them against the perils associated with forces beyond our immediate control.

We shall continue to be alert against the possible fallout from this global financial crisis and to constructively engage with the labour movement and other stakeholders in finding solutions to the problems that may arise for the local working class.
This is a time for responsible and prudent leadership on the part of the workers’ organization. This is a time for solidarity. Sadly, however, yet another May Day has found the workers’ movement divided. This is indeed unfortunate and a grave injustice to the heroic struggles which workers have waged throughout our long history. Those struggles were based on principles, and it is within this commitment to time-honoured principles that the trade union movement should seek greater reconciliation.
Achieving this unity is not helped by posturing or the use of intemperate language by elements within the trade union community. Incivility and grandstanding will come at the expense of principles, erode respect and further alienate workers from their leadership.

As workers in Guyana wrestle with the many challenges that confront our nation, I wish to assure them of the wholehearted support of my government in advancing their social and economic well being and in creating a just, secure and progressive future for them and for succeeding generations.
Happy May Day! Long Live Working Class Solidarity!