Latest update July 26th, 2026 2:05 AM
Latest News
- Pres. Ali to unveil 5-member Int’l COI today to probe MV Barima disaster
- After six years of pumping oil, Guyana’s debt increased sixfold
- Other nations’ ministers stepped down following deadly ferry disasters
- Grieving mother calls on Govt. to subsidise airfares after ferry tragedy claims son
- GHRA demands Parliament-led COI into MV Barima sinking
May Day Rally – a political football
Dear Editor,
I refer to your editorial of 30th. April 2011 under the caption “A tattered labour movement” and your serious concern over the divisions within the wider labour and trade union movement.
I hope that you will agree that this apparent disunity has its historical roots. Perhaps the disagreements were not as noticeable as today, as during the days of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the founding father of the labour movement.
These divisions that we currently experience are based on ideological and political differences, which have been used and abused over a period of five decades by the two main political parties, the Peoples Progressive Party and the Peoples National Congress. It was a means to gain political power.
The actions taken by both parties are often justified in the name of liberation against an oppressive capitalist system and their rule
But the time has come for the workers to be united around their day to day problems at work and in the respective communities where they live.
The trade unions must take the bold step to officially enter the political arena to fundamentally change the economic and social system in the interest of their members and all working people in the country.
For too long political parties have used the votes of workers and working people for their narrow interests and have not delivered on their manifestos.
This is not a new idea. The current Labour Party in the United Kingdom and the Workers Party of Brazil are two of the most remarkable examples of workers and working people running governments successfully. Guyana needs to follow those examples.
This May Day must see a historic break from the past and a new political culture must develop, where the workers, farmers and progressive sections of our society can lead this new political movement in the 21st century against all the ills experienced by this Jagdeo regime. The time to act is now.
Jinnah Rahman
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.