Politicians must stay out of Local Govt. elections at NDC level - GTUC

Politicians must stay out of Local Govt. elections at NDC level – GTUC

Nov 05, 2013 News

The political parties are being asked to stay out of the elections in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and to allow the citizens in each community to work across party lines to elect their leaders and develop their agenda.
General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis in his report to the entity’s fourth triennial delegates’ conference held at the end of last month under the theme “Empowering Citizens For Societal Development-Intensifying the Fight”, said that Local Government elections are in the air.
“This speaks to the devolution of power and the deepening of democratic practices in Guyana.”
According to Lewis, Local Government elections speak to the interest of the GTUC. “Our members and their households stand to be affected directly by the results of these elections and their conduct.”
He said that ‘Local Government’ is a deepening of the right to self-determination, where the citizens in each community shall elect their leaders.
This has its genesis in the Village Movement where the residents elected their leaders.
“As we seek to speak about the deepening of our democracy, political parties cannot call on the people to organize, plan and develop their communities yet at the same time divide the people along political lines.”
In calling for politicians to stay out of the process at the NDC level, Lewis said that for political parties to be involved in these elections speak to the notion that the politicians at the national level want to control the thinking, behaviour and every act within every sphere of the society.
“The trade unions have a social responsibility to every community within which they operate and they are called upon to influence the change in ensuring the power is put back into the hands of the people.”
“GTUC stands firm to the belief that we can only achieve an inclusionary society where fundamental human rights, dignities and justice are guaranteed and protected for each citizen, where they can grow and develop and have meaningful participation in their country’s development, and that the law protects and holds each citizen accountable.”
He said that the trade union body stands committed to forge a truly inclusive government and trade union community by holding all, “including our self, accountable to reinforcing/giving meaning to these international and local instruments.”
This, he said, is Labour’s commitment. It is a commitment deeply rooted in the United Nations’ affirmation that: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
He said that “It is a commitment being made possible in other lands and many of us leave these shores to experience these rights that others laid down their lives for – that now forms such a natural part of the lives of others that like air it is sometimes taken for granted.”

2 thoughts on “Politicians must stay out of Local Govt. elections at NDC level – GTUC”

vatvic November 5, 2013 at 12:14 pm

“In calling for politicians to stay out of the process at the NDC level…”

But surely Lewis, good fellow, this a brilliant idea to impress upon the ppp, though camouflaged in jest as is here presented, surely they shall see the wondrous benefits of such a unilateral patriotic act.
Martin November 5, 2013 at 10:14 pm

Over the years the GTUC has foolishly allowed itself to be used and abused by the political tug-a-war and the independence of the body along with the workers welfare were regrettably sacrificed. The movement is now a big farce and the subscription of union dues without adequate and effective representation is another vicious insult to the workers. Under these circumstances Management should encourage and facilitate workers’ input in the operations and formulate policies to address grievances and income reviews.