GTU files contempt proceedings against Govt. for refusal to deduct and remit union dues

Aug 29, 2025 News

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) have filed contempt proceedings against several government agents over their failure to comply with an order of court in relation to the remittance of teachers’ union dues.

The document noted that Justice Sandil Kissoon had ordered the officials of the Government to continue the remittance of union dues until the final determination of court case filed over teacher salary increases. The proceedings drafted by attorney-at-law, Darren Wade outlines the plaintiff’s willful and/or negligent failure to comply with the said orders.

The document seen by this newspaper lists Attorney General of Guyana Anil Nandlall SC, Regional Executive Officer, Region 4 Donald Garaj, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Ms. Shannelle Hoosein-Outar, Regional Executive Officer, Region Two Ms. Susanah Saywack, VI, Regional Executive Officer, Region 6 (New Amsterdam, Berbice), Mr. Narendra Persaud, Regional Executive Officer, Region Five (Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice), Mr. Sadick Ishmael as liable of the alleged contempt.

According to the court papers, the respondents and agents and servants have failed and/or neglected to adhere to the said Court Orders. The document stipulates that “The Order of the Court by Justice Kissoon to quash the unlawful directive dated the 6^th of February 2025 has not been respected.”

It was explained that the effect of the Court’s decision to quash the directives was to place the parties back to their original position before the unlawful directive was made by the government through its agent, Hoosein-Outar.

Further it pointed out that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, despite being duly served, failed and/or neglected to withdraw the unlawful directive of the 6^th of February 2024, to ensure payroll processing in compliance with the Court Orders, or to direct her subordinates to carry out the deductions and remittances required.

“The Minister of Finance, despite being duly served, failed and/or neglected to direct the payroll department to process deductions, to return payrolls reflecting such deductions to the RDCs and the Ministry of Education, or to ensure the central role of the Ministry of Finance in the lawful remittance of dues was carried out,” the application for contempt stated.

The document specified that as a result, the Regional Executive Officers of Regions 2, 4, 5 and 6, despite being duly served, failed and/or neglected to process and facilitate the lawful deduction of union dues, issue and remit cheques to the GTU, or otherwise take steps as Accounting Officers to comply with the Court Orders.

It explained too that the Attorney General, despite being duly served, failed and/or neglected to advise and ensure compliance by the Government and its officers with the binding Orders of the Court, failed to prevent the continued withholding of salaries and stoppage of deductions, and failed in his statutory and constitutional duty to uphold the rule of law.

Added to this, the application contends that the Respondent, together with its agents and servants, including the Regional Executive Officers, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, the Minister of Finance, and the Attorney General, having been duly served with the binding Orders of Court, have willfully and persistently refused to comply therewith. “Their conduct amounts to a flagrant and deliberate defiance of the judicial authority of the Court, a reckless disregard for the rule of law, and a continuing contempt calculated to frustrate and nullify the constitutional rights of the Applicant Union and its members.”

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GTUC, Guyana Teachers Union, Sandil Kissoon, Union dues

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