Freddie Kissoon has an agenda and it is not for the improvement of the university or worker/management relationship

May 24, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

He who asserts must be called on to prove his case. This is a basic principle in the day-to-day practice of trade unionism. Reference is being made to the article in the Freddie Kissoon’s column, “Lincoln Lewis personifies the demise of Guyana” (KN, 23rd May 2019).
Kissoon has accused me of breaching time-honoured principles and being involved in cronyism on matters pertaining to trade unionism, the workers’ unions at the University of Guyana (UG) and the appointment of Ivor English as the Guyana Trades Union Congress’ (GTUC) representative on the UG Council. I have since responded to the allegations, advising that his interpretation of the issues is without merit and dangerous. Refer to letter, “Freddie is playing a dangerous game with this society and our highest tertiary institution of learning” (KN 22nd May, 2019).
I would have expected him, having heard from me on the matters, as a professed academic with the evidence now before him, to have revisited the issues to either negate what was said or provide evidence to the contrary. Sadly, this is not an area of scholarship Freddie seems interested in. He is at his best being irrational and deflecting to personality, hoping to mask his deceit. He acts like a bullying dishonest academic.
On this grave issue where the welfare of the workers, students and university is at stake, there shall be no facilitating of his Napoleonic syndrome to give rise to the need to appear bigger than he is. We are talking about this nation’s only and highest institution of learning and what it requires to understand its workings, address and defuse matters of conflict affecting it presently.
The role and responsibility of the GTUC’s representative and unions’ representative on the Council is different. Consequently, to aid the public in having an understanding as to what these are such is hereunder stated:-

1. The GTUC sits on the Council as a Social Partner in keeping with its constitutional role. Ours is to bring a working class perspective as to the direction the institution should be going consistent with its mandate in creating an educated populace ready to meet the challenges/needs of national development. In this role our representative does not just act as an advocate of those employed at the UG and overtime has agreed and disagreed with other stakeholders on the Council consistent with interest and principles.

2. The university unions have a representative on the Council. That representative sits there as the voice/counsel of organised labour on the campus.

Contrary to Kissoon’s peddling of misinformation, English’s appointment on the Council was sanctioned by the GTUC Central Executive Council. It is the principle of the GTUC after initial appointment of a representative, unless the identified person communicates disinterest in continuing, when the life of the new board/council begins he or she shall continue. English gets no special privilege. He, like others who represent the GTUC at such level, is the beneficiary of the Congress’ time-honoured practice. Such practice is informed by the thinking that continuity is important in management and lapses in performance must be eschewed.
The non-constituting of boards, councils, commissions, etc. has been a practice for some time in this society. This is a matter the GTUC is troubled by and has been vocal on, for lapses hinder continuity, effective and efficient management of the people’s business.
As recent as 5th March, among a 19-point menu of measures proposed to society, Government and Opposition to improve governance was the, “Establishment & continual function of all constitutional Commissions and Tribunal, and Boards – Where the life of one comes to an end and for any reason a new one has not been constituted the life of the current board, commission or tribunal shall continue, until such time that the appropriate action is taken. Non-appointment of any constitutional body constitutes a violation of the Constitution.”
As recent as yesterday (Wednesday), the GTUC leadership, including the President and yours truly, met with the UG unions to listen and address issues of concern to them. We continue to advise that the Collective Labour Agreement guides action in addressing any grievance with the university management.
Freddie Kissoon has an agenda. It is not for the improvement of the university or worker/management relationship. Check his writings on the issues; they are laced with deceit, hatred, personal attacks and pending implosion. Now being out of its limelight, his actions are akin to an animal bitten by rabies. One can only hope sooner rather than later he comes to his senses and reconciles the fact he is no longer in the employ of the university, has no power or locus standing to exert at the Council, over the unions or the students.
I await his response for I know this is an opportunity for him to extol himself and distort what I am saying. I am prepared to engage him now for as long as the media permits.

Lincoln Lewis

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