This campaign against the Government must stop
Viewpoint
THE relentless contrivances to imperil the progress of the PPP/Civic Government must stop. It all started with the bogus claim of flawed elections, which gained momentum into fraudulent elections and the infamous boast of making the country ungovernable, culminating in the unprecedented acquiescence to forego two years of a mandate given to the ruling party and its civic component, by the democratic majority of this country's electorate. This modus operandi of the alliance between the major minority party in parliament and its historical trade unionists supporters, is again being played out in the absurd position being adapted by the GPSU in relation to ongoing wages negotiations. The language and pompous style being displayed by the president of both the union and TUC, is indicative of the ill manner and disrespect, which this particular unionist employs in his dialogue with the Government. Imagine the threat of "rapid, decisive and final" measures if Government fails to deal quickly with the issue of public service wages. The question to be asked of this political neophyte is, at which National Elections did he secure the mandate to threaten and dictate to this Government. Apart from the fact that Trade Union custom and practice do not support negotiations being conducted with one of the parties employing threatening language, it must be understood that the modus operandi of imperiling progress is again being pursued. This position parallels the oft demonstrated position of the major minority party in Parliament on every measure being put in place by the Government. This alliance will disregard the fact that public servants have benefited from this Government to the tune of 300 per cent or more in increased wages since coming to office. Sixty-five million US dollars is currently being expended on the wages bill: the last year of the previous Government the wages bill was close to twenty-six million. In spite of the demonstrated contrivance to imperil any progress by this Government, you find that a particular daily newspaper in its editorials cannot adopt a brave position of openly condemning the guilty party. My contention is that peaceful resolution cannot be attained if one of the two contestants is determined to imperil progress; the word is ungovernable. One recent editorial stated inter alia.... "Any further disruption spawned by public servants over wages can also exacerbate the national divide which roared back to life this year with the impasse over political dialogue and the threat of renowned street protests. It is a toll which neither side in this public service wage dispute can afford to ignore or risk". The question again to be asked is, if imperiling progress is the agenda of the unionist and his mentor, who must be condemned. On a more savoury note, congratulations must be voiced in favour of the Ministry of Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock and the private sector, in mounting the buy local promotion campaign. The programme on April 1, 1999 at the Le Meridien Pegasus was well attended and the exhibition was demonstrative of the ability of Guyanese to produce acceptable quality products. Minister Sawh's total conviction and faith in Guyanese being able to take up the challenge of satisfying the nation with high quality local produce, was reassuring and refreshing in his impressive opening brief remarks. President Janet Jagan in her feature address was as usual totally committed to the cause of Guyanese and Guyana. She identified the importation of many items, including fresh cut flowers as incomprehensible and appealed to Guyanese to become more nationalistic in our taste and choice of imported items over locally produced commodities, citing furniture as an example. President Jagan sounded a word of caution to all local producers when she said, if you know that the quality of your products is sub-standard, do not put it on the market. Made in Guyana, grown in Guyana, is the slogan we must all follow.
|