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Remembering the words of LFS Burnham

Jun 08, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

“Once you get into power, you’re supposed to know how to stay there.”

I was startled at hearing Burnham’s voice, as I thought he had already left the premises, the Guyana Trades Union Council (GTUC) meeting hall, where we were having a Delegates’ Conference.

The opening session had come to an end and delegates were milling around, including myself, as Senior Vice-President of the Clerical and Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU). Burnham’s voice had sounded petulant as if he had been arguing with somebody.

I spun around and our eyes met, as he was walking around the laid out chairs, now mostly empty, on his way out of the building. Our eyes stayed locked as he kept walking towards us.

I felt that he would much rather I was not there to have heard his words, apparently having burst out from him, as there was no one in the vicinity he could have been talking to The seconds kept ticking and I began to wonder if I should have some concern about my welfare, but I allayed this fear by remembering that he had a friendly acquaintanceship with my nephew, who was a staunch supporter of the PNC.

When Burnham finally passed us, I told those with whom I was talking, that “it sounds like he was having an argument with somebody.” With whom, I do not know, but he must have been urging them towards taking some course of action.

At the Annual Delegates’ Conference, Ashton Chase of NAACIE (National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees) moved a motion condemning the rigging of national elections, and calling for them to be free and fair.

There was uproar in the hall and it was clear that the motion would not have been supported or carried.

At this particular time, both my General President Gordon Todd, and General Secretary George De Peana were absent, no doubt involved in official duties, and this left me, in effect, as the head of the CCWU delegation.

I conferred with my fellow-delegates, and told them I wished to speak in support of the motion to which they agreed.

Amidst the uproar, I rose and spoke in support but suggested that the words referring to rigged elections be deleted and that the motion should call for free and fair elections.

Ashton Chase said that he saw no reason why the reference to rigged elections should be deleted but he reluctantly accepted the amendment and the amended motion was carried by acclamation. I was the only other person to speak in support.

When De Peana, our General Secretary returned, I told him what transpired, and he commented that, “the CCWU is doing a lot of participating.”

John Da Silva

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