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Rights and the rule of law are paramount, President Jagdeo must adhere
Lincoln Lewis
Workers should refer to statements made by Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo in a Feb. 13, 2010, Stabroek News article titled "Union urged against jeopardising bauxite investment– Jagdeo" http:/
This is another indicator of the degeneracy taking place in Guyana and it must not be condoned.
In any decent and civilized society, rights and the rule of law are paramount in the determination of any activity, be it social, economic or political. All Guyanese, including President Jagdeo, must adhere. President Jagdeo’s references to RUSAL leaving other countries because of economic viability should be no excuse for trampling on the country’s laws and workers’ rights by the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. of which the Government of Guyana is a part-owner. For Jagdeo to say to the workers and the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union, that in the interest of a company’s economic well-being they must accept the transgressions of their rights and Guyana’s laws is preposterous.
There should be no support, tacit or explicit, by anyone, to violate Guyana’s laws and Guyanese’s rights because of the need for a job or a company's economic viability . These statements of ‘acceptable behaviour’ coming from government officials have become breathing ground for mayhem, anarchy, chaos and the acceptance of street justice. This mindset to governance hurts not only the victims but also the vanquished, as is being seen through retaliation and the judiciary, both locally and overseas. Guyanese owe a depth of gratitude to the U.S justice system for the once untouchable Roger Khan, David Clarke, Peter Morgan and others who found safe heaven to break Guyana's laws in assured in the protection of the Jagdeo government.
RUSAL is a multinational conglomerate subject to international business principles which include adherence to ethical business practices and respect for the host country’s laws. So, even if a government is inclined to violate its laws and trample on the rights of some citizens it offers no excuse to a foreign company.
Now that President Jagdeo has spoken out on the bauxite dispute it should be remembered that he was the first person the Union and company approached with a proposal for wage increase. Both the union and company wrote him, twice, seeking the reinstatement of the tax-free overtime as a mean of giving the workers an increase take-home pay. This was the first agreed position by the Union and company and was jettisoned by the President. It should be said that this benefit was fought for and achieved by bauxite workers in 1988 and was taken away under the PPP administration. The President needs to tell the workers why when collaborative efforts were made by the company and Union to give bauxite workers more take home pay he stood on the sidelines.
When one reads of the billions in Government revenue surplus, reinstating the workers' tax free overtime pay would not hurt the Treasury. In fact with more net income workers would have been able to invest in personal commodities for their economic advancement which would also stand to benefit the society through taxation, be it in VAT, savings, etc. Both government and worker would have benefited, but the government is not interested in sharing the wealth with all the workers.
The Union has written the Minister of Labour, Chief Labour Officer, Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, and the Ethnic Relations Commission seeking their involvement. These named bodies are legally constituted and are expected to carry out their responsibility consistent with their respective mandate.
It is unreasonable for anyone to expect workers to accept excuses or inaction from institutions and persons tasked with the responsibility to enforce the laws, protect their rights, and resolve this three-month old dispute.
Guyana Bauxite Union, President Jagdeo, RUSAL, Bauxite Company Guyana Inc, Rule of Law, rights
Last updated 165 days ago by Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union
