SPEECH TO THE THIRD CONFERENCE OF THE FITUG – July 13, 2010


I should like to thank you for your invitation to deliver opening remarks to this the Third Conference of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana. This acknowledgement from you that I may have something of interest or value to say to the trade union movement, is indeed a great honour.

Among the material I consulted when preparing my remarks, is the speech of Brother Ashton Chase to the first Conference of FITUG in 2006. It is a most enlightening document, reverberating with history. A portion of the speech traces the formation and suspension of FITUG between 1988 and 1993, and its re-establishment in 2003. This history demonstrates that FITUG’s birth and growth were inevitable outcomes of the underlying interplay of politics, workers’ struggles and trade unionism, that have characterised our history as well that of many other Caribbean countries.

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CRISIS IN EUROPE


A severe financial crisis is threatening Europe. It gets worse by the day. As an indication of how deep the crisis has become, Moody’s Corporation, a world recognized credit rating company, downgraded five German banks on June 6, hitherto regarded as having triple A rating. It has been predicted by financial experts that unless the crisis is resolved in a few weeks the Euro will unravel, financial chaos will ensue and the recession affecting only some countries will spread over Europe and further afield.

There has been little or no discussion in our media or that of the Caribbean on the crisis or its potential impact on our economies. Not only do we have trading relationships with Europe on which many industries rely, but we receive significant inflows in aid and grants from the European Union which can be adversely affected by an escalation of the crisis.

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CREATE A NEW VISION FOR GUYANA – WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS


The rejection by the National Assembly of the re-tabled Supplementary Estimates, rejected previously, elicited headlines, accusations and counter accusations recently. According to statements in the press the Government re-tabled the Estimates because the Opposition had indicated that it was prepared to reconsider them. To its surprise the opposition voted against the Estimates without asking a single question. After the Sitting the Opposition explained that its complaint against the Estimates had been inadequate explanations and that the Estimates were resubmitted with the identical, inadequate, explanations.

The denial of funds to the Office of the President is particularly painful. On one item only, Presidential Advisory (Cabinet and Other Services) of a total of $401,000,000.00 was reduced by $230,000,000.00 to $171,000,000.00. This head includes the staff of the Parliament office who number over one hundred and is not confined to the few advisers who are employed there. Many of them will lose their jobs and the business of the Office of the President will be grievously hampered.

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MARX, CAPITALISM AND THE RECESSION


Many thanks for your response to the articles I sent. I did not intend or expect a response, especially one so extensive.  I expected more to irritate you than anything else. I notice that I succeeded.

I know very well your views on these matters, having had many discussions with you over many years. But I think your effort deserves serious consideration and a thoughtful response.

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AN URGENT RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE IS NECESSARY


The Opposition Leader, Mr. David Granger, has said that the Opposition is interested in leverage. He also said that the cuts can be restored if the necessary reforms are undertaken. For his part President Ramotar has pledged his continuing commitment to dialogue even in the midst of denouncing the savage cuts to the Budget by the Opposition. It seems reasonable to conclude that an urgent return to the negotiating table is necessary to mend fences, reduce tension and proceed with the nation’s business.

The passage of the Budget does not resolve the political stand-off which has been brought about by the election results. It merely gives a temporary respite. However, all parties are looking to elections at some time down the road when they hope to increase their parliamentary strength. The PPP has the recovery of the PNC in 2012 to contemplate. In 2012 it recovered the six seats and seven percent of the votes it lost to the AFC in 2006. The PPP/C will be hoping to copy that experience and recover the seven percent of the votes and five seats  it lost to the AFC in these elections.

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