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Voice of labour
(Kaieteur News) – Voices of labour rose on Labour Day, sounded across Guyana. Two workers, of whom one preferred anonymity, shared mouthful, spoke for many. Annesia Nedd, and an anonymous fellow worker had their say, and we hope that their words reached the right places, and will move those with the power of oil money in their hands to do something. To do what could make a difference in the lives of Guyanese workers and their families, and every Guyanese in every community.
Annesia Nedd is a brave Guyanese, a brave worker, who must be respected for speaking her mind, sharing the brutal reality of her circumstances in this oil rich nation. “We are out here surviving, who knows, knows.” Guyanese should be celebrating their standard of living and the quality of life that they enjoy, because of their oil wealth, and not talking about “surviving.” After six years of increasing levels of daily oil production, and prewar oil prices at respectable levels, no Guyanese worker should be speaking on Labour Day about “surviving.” It is worth hearing some more from her: “I am managing and I am trying. It’s completely stressful, and frustrating at times. It’s frustrating to know there is so much going on in the country, but there are persons still stuck and not benefiting from the whole thing. It’s really sad.”
It should be, when someone has to wait eight years for a house lot. It is sad when paying a mortgage and delighting in pride of ownership, is preferred than paying a monthly rent, and after eight years no house lot is in hand. A worker that preferred anonymity lamented rising prices, while calling for a raise in pay. So would many thousands of workers across Guyana. She also shared a common truth: “Presently, most of my money go to rent, because I don’t have my own land.” It is another case of a Guyanese worker in an oil rich paradise who knows of only one place, the long line of surviving. This is more than an uncomfortable irony; it is a Guyana tragedy that is repeated throughout the length and breadth of this country. Those who work to pay rent, and hope for the best. Those who are the owners of so much wealth, but can’t get their footing, find their way.
The president and his Cabinet emphasise the positives that include many more kilometers of roads, expensive modern bridges, buildings that tower in the new Guyana landscape, and plans for many more billions to be expended on the same. Alongside the roads, beyond the bridges, and below the costly new buildings are Guyanese workers who are forced to exist in survival mode. Prices bleed them dry, leave them fighting for breath, push them to the very edge of survival. It is surprising that Labour Day in Guyana is now such a benign affair. It is surprising that the once undying spirit of Cuffy and Kowsilla has not grabbed hold of Guyanese workers and pushed them into a state of restlessness, of labour militancy.
What has happened to that type of Labour leader? The kind that has some portion of the drive, some element of the caliber, that made a Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and Cheddi Jagan such tireless and fearless leaders for workers’ rights. Leadership that proudly and boldly identified with the pain of workers, and willingly sacrificed their own interests for the betterment of Guyanese workers. When labour leaders get too friendly with, cozy up too much to, political schemers, they relinquish all claims as labour leadership, and are best seen as labour’s villains.
Guyanese political leaders have a long history of misusing some labour leaders. Draw them in, incentivize them, and set them against the best interests of their members. Divide the ranks of union leadership and put them against one another. Political leaders and their captive labour leaders celebrate their victories, while Guyanese rank-and-file workers count their losses, and slowly discern that their battles have been lost, without a fight.
A united labour front, a blended platform for workers, speaking with one voice may make just enough progress, so that the Annesia Nedd, and other anonymous workers, stop talking about surviving and start living.
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