President Ramotar’s appeal for votes met with loud heckling

…at FITUG Rally  

By Sunita Samaroo Placards bearing calls for unity, duty free allowances and a reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) were among those brandished yesterday as hundreds of workers tramped through the city wards in celebration of Labour Day. Dressed primarily in red, the workers marched through the city streets in droves as various trade unions led their respective processions to two main meeting points of the umbrella trade union bodies, Federation of Independent Trade Union of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC). As is customary, the unions that fall under GTUC marched from downtown Georgetown led by Opposition Leader, David Granger, to the GTUC headquarters at Woolford Avenue and Albert Street, Georgetown. The FITUG march culminated at the National Park and the activity was being observed under the theme “United for Continued Progress and Development.” That event was graced by former trade unionist and current President, Donald Ramotar who delivered the feature address. Soon after the arrival of the President following which the National Anthem was sung, one of the men in the crowd shouted “Moses and Granger forever” to a resounding round of applause. The heckling intensified throughout the activity. Though he was greeted with calls by workers for “change” and on quite a few occasions called out on his “lies”, President Ramotar yesterday made a pitch to garner votes from the hundreds of workers gathered. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate sought to outline just what his administration has done for workers and what they could have done had it not been for the combined opposition which dominated the tenth parliament. Though Ramotar announced his running mate, Elisabeth Harper as Guyana’s next Prime Minister with much enthusiasm, the crowd did not stir. He told those gathered that the PPP/C is a working class government which from inception has worked to improve the conditions of workers. The PPP/C, he said, has implemented numerous legislations designed to strengthen workers’ rights and offer great protection to the working people. The President boasted that they had signed more International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions than any other Caribbean country and over the years had constantly worked to improve the income of workers, directly and indirectly. He highlighted that even when the economy grew by 4.5 percent annually, the PPP/C administration ensured that workers were still given at least five percent increase in wages and salaries. “We have also extended the tax threshold to allow you to keep more money in your pockets,” he said. Ramotar, the President whose salary rivals that of world leaders, told the workers that his party had moved them from being workers who received payments of $6000 when they assumed office in 1992, to workers who now benefit from $50,000 a month “that would allow you to have far greater money… to spend as you so wish”. The President promised that as long as the economy continued growing, they will increase the minimum wage in the country.” He said that they had also delivered heavily on non-wage benefits so that they “could keep more money in your pockets,” but some members of the audience made no qualms about asking “wha money?” “Our housing programme is legendary and every house lot you get is heavily subsidized by government of Guyana,” was the statement by Ramotar which met with collective grunts from the crowd and one woman even hurling an expletive. He said too that his administration improved pension from $300 and a means test to now having pensioners benefit from $13,200 monthly with their only “qualification being to reach 65.” “We are ready to continue these tasks to put out more services to ensure that working people have a better life …we are focusing on trying to create more employment.” He spoke about the infrastructural projects that would create more and higher paying employment such as the Amaila Falls Hydro project. He said despite the opposition’s budget cuts they continued and, “In the future, once we win the elections again we will build the Amaila falls project. That will help to drive our country into being a manufacturing country and we will be able to create 1000 more jobs,” he said. He pledged that his project will create high paying jobs for the economy which was met by a resounding “Yuh lie!” from sections of the crowd. Ramotar spoke of the support given to the bauxite industry in the past. Likewise, he told the crowd which comprised sugar workers, that a Ramotar-led government will plug billions into the sugar industry to keep it alive. Ramotar assured that the government has no intention of privatizing the sugar industry. He spoke of plans for GuySuCo to dabble in producing ethanol, alcohol, specialty sugar and be able to refine sugar. “That is why it is important for you to understand what is at stake at these elections, to not put our country in danger,” he said as he rolled off projects that the Opposition blocked in the tenth parliament. He urged the workers to not put the country “backwards.” He asked workers to “give us your solidarity so that we can take your country forward and make it one of the best countries in the world.” If any of those gathered clapped it was drowned out by the “No” that a large percent of the crowd responded with to the President’s pitch for their votes. Addressing the crowd, President of the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand spoke of the advocates who over the years sought to have the working class operate under better conditions and salaries. Chand spoke at length of world challenges and particularly those facing workers internationally. Clearly focusing on the upcoming elections, the GAWU president reminded workers of the cuts made in the tenth parliament. He said that the government as well as development projects were affected. He went on to state that jobs were denied because of “non-judicial budget cuts.” He expressed hope that the experience of the past three years will “guide” them. He urged workers to ensure that they vote on May 11 to sustain democracy which was “returned in 1992” and must not be undermined. The GAWU head noted that the sugar industry has attracted significant political attention. He emphasised that politicians have been saying that the industry is too big and important to fail. He said that his union welcomes the plans of a Ramotar-led administration to inject $20B into the industry. He noted that it was May Day and despite assistance from two Caribbean trade unionists, unity among local trade union umbrella bodies is yet to be attained. He described unity as critical to success. Also speaking on the need for unity in the union fraternity was Carvil Duncan who posited that while there is unemployment there are figures that show that Guyana is doing better than other regions. He argued that the unemployment issued is not an act of the administration but rather of those who cut the budgets. Duncan insisted that “they denied you your jobs.” He was adamant that the cut projects would have created employment for hundreds of Guyanese, as the recently opened taxpayer-funded Marriott hotel has done. But his remark earned him a sound retort from the crowd which said clearly, “We can’t afford to go there.” But Duncan persevered; pointing out that elections were days away and it was not “about me or you” but rather about “your children and grandchildren.” He told workers that whatever decision they made would impact those dearest to them “therefore, think what you do, consider where you mark your x.” He expressed optimism that one day there will be a joint rally and “all workers would be sitting in one place, listening to one message.” He said that a united trade union movement was one of better gain than the divided situation which exists in Guyana. Duncan said the division was one caused by leaders. “Examine from where we came, where we are and where we need to be. If we don’t do that we will be failing ourselves, children, family and history. The future is in your hands. The time is right when you have to make a choice,” he said. The FITUG President went on to say that “We know what you got. It is said a bird in your hand is worth more than 1000 in the bush. Make a good choice; make a choice for the future and history will guide you. Long live the trade union movement,” he ended to a crowd that shouted “Change!”