THE GAWU LABOUR COLLEGE


 

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) launched its GAWU Labour College last Thursday, built at a cost of $110 million. It was a memorable event. A large cross-section of Guyanese was present – from labour, business and politics – and they joined in welcoming the opening of the school by Senior Counsel, Ashton Chase, erstwhile eminent politician and labour leader. The President of GAWU, Komal Chand, outlined the aims and objectives of the College. The Ministers of Labour and Education offered their congratulations and pledged their support. Dr. Ana Teresa Romero, the director of the International Labour Organisation Subregional Office for the Caribbean, addressed the ceremony which was chaired by the Principal of the College, Navin Chandrapal. The establishment of the College was recognized by all the speakers to be an outstanding achievement for the Union and a milestone for labour education for Guyana.

The GAWU Labour College is the second of its kind in Guyana. The Critchlow Labour College was established many years ago and is managed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). It was a flourishing educational institution which was heavily subsidized by the Government. However, the division in the labour movement had its inevitable repercussions on the Critchlow Labour College. The subsidies from the Government were discontinued as a result of disagreement in the implementation of reforms in the management of the Critchlow Labour College. It has recently opened its doors once again and it must be the hope of all persons of goodwill that Critchlow will be restored to its place of eminence in the educational system as soon as possible.

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CRITICIZING PUBLIC OFFICIALS


For many years the stringency of the libel laws in Guyana has been the subject of debate. The victims of libel actions have always complained that the inflexibility of the libel laws reduce their capacity to expose wrongdoing of public figures who have duties to the citizens. Our situation was always contrasted with that of the United States where it appeared that politicians could be lawfully criticized with a defamatory vehemence which was impossible in Guyana. The PPP, other opposition forces and sections of the press were victims of libel actions and complained bitterly when in opposition. But the PPP/C government did not follow up the PPP’s criticisms by reforming the law after it came to office. Prime Minister Bruce Golding of Jamaica initiated a study of the issue as promised when he was in opposition.

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