Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
Latest News
GTUC says competent Guyanese being sidelined in Amaila debate
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) condemns the “roguish tactics by Government investors and special interest” and believes that the Members of Parliament (MPs) must engage their constituents on Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.
GTUC leader, Lincoln Lewis, this past week weighed in on the current moves by government to win support for the Amaila Project and said that the participation of MPs at the recent engagement in the National Assembly raises serious concerns as to their rights and roles.
GTUC’s Lincoln Lewis
“The parliamentarians were elected by the citizens and their first and foremost responsibility is to protect and advance the interests of the citizens.”
Lewis believes that it is time parliamentarians understand that “your first role is to the citizens, and no foreign company has the right to walk into our National Assembly and try to sell you something that is inimical to the interest of the people, and more so this being done without the people’s involvement and support.”
In lamenting the use of the Chambers, Lewis said that “our elected officials on both sides of the National Assembly have decided that they would entertain presentations from a group whose only intention is to make money on the backs of the citizens to influence them in making decisions.”
Lewis opined also that the tenor of salesmanship by the investors comes across as “bullying our policy makers to conform to their wishes”.
According to the veteran trade unionist, the project has drawn serious analyses from prominent and competent Guyanese like Professor Clive Thomas, Ramon Gaskin and Christopher Ram.
He said that Thomas, Gaskin, and Ram, who are born and bred Guyanese and whose patriotism on this matter cannot be questioned “remain voices crying in the wilderness and our MPs are yet to indicate to them that they are prepared to embrace similar consideration to sit, listen and make an informed opinion based on the concerns they have been raising.”
Lewis said that the GTUC is advocating that Ram and Gaskin be allowed a similar audience in the National Assembly to address the MPs on the lingering concerns on the Amaila Falls Project.
He added that the trade union body has also never been involved in any discussion on the Amaila Falls Project.
“No one has spoken to us on this issue in as much as the Constitution gives us the right to participation.”
Lewis also asserted that the Executive and Private Sector aggression to commit Guyanese to a project that has serious consequences for their future, without respecting the citizenry’s right to be involved, appears unconstitutional.
He cited Article 13 of the Constitution, which expressly says, “The principal objective of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organizations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their wellbeing.”
Lewis said it is clear that the MPs and political decision-makers have not learnt.
“At this time in 2012 the citizens of Linden/Region 10 were in the streets, challenging a decision made that impacted on their constitutional, economic and social wellbeing, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of many.”
Lewis stated that despite the Linden experience, Winston Brassington, on behalf of the Government of Guyana, which in effect is on behalf of the People of Guyana, “is arbitrarily stating that Linden will be included in the Amaila Falls programme, without the people’s involvement.”
According to Lewis, Brassington has ascribed to himself the authority to say to the people that the private generators that are off the national grid will have to return, because the government will remove the fuel concessions.
The Executive, he said, has to be told when a benefit has been negotiated and implemented, and “cannot arbitrarily decide they will remove it…For what is acquired through negotiations will have to be undone through negotiations and agreement…To do otherwise is bordering on dictatorship.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The third parties will not survive this year’s elections
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The fate of third parties in this year’s general and regional elections is as predictable... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
