Dear Editor,
Recent comments by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and the Federation of Independent Trades Union (FITUG) on the report by Ms Gay McDougall, United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues, comprised personal attacks and superficial denial. These organisations must know their attempts would not diminish the seriousness of the report or the United Nations’ concerns about escalating discrimination in Guyana. Statements attacking Ms McDougall never provided any irrefutable evidence to deny charges that the African community is at the receiving end of PPP discriminatory policies. FITUG never denied the government destroyed the bauxite industry pension fund, and took away funding from the Critchlow Labour College (CLC).
Over the years the PPP has given five reasons for withdrawing funding:
accountability;
wanting more government involvement in the decision-making of the CLC;
giving money to the CLC would be seen as government involvement in trade union business;
college catering to one racial group; and
the reconfiguration of the CLC must accommodate FITUG unions.
The many reasons leave persons to conclude the government is deliberately pursuing a discriminatory policy against an institution that by law it has no control over, and that a group is being targeted because of their racial identity. At no time has the CLC had a problem with accountability as claimed by the government and its supporters. It is the said strategy which is being used to deny funding to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).
The destruction of the contributory bauxite pension fund by the government was uncalled for. The fund was not in crisis. Proposals and recommendations made by the bauxite community and bauxite unions to save the fund were all ignored by the government. This fund was worth billions of dollars and the single largest pool of money owned by Africans who were working and saving for their retirement.
It should be noted that the African Guyanese leaders of the named organisations who have attacked Ms McDougall and the UN report are not among the suffering masses. They witness the daily oppression, discrimination and anguish of their brothers and sisters but refuse to give voice or render support. When the history of this period would have been written these leaders will be identified with those suppressing their people.
To those discriminated against, be not deterred by those whose bread is well buttered. Keep up the struggles for your rights!
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
General Secretary
Caribbean Congress of Labour
SN, did the newspaper ever do an article on what exactly has happened to the Bauxite Industry Pension Plan? The monies? The workers’ pay-outs? Closure of GNCB, etc.
Moderator’s note: BIPP members were offered a deal during the retrenchment period and money was paid out. GNCB exists in the form of a bad debt collections unit, this needs to be updated.
Lincoln Lewis is merely continuing his partisan attacks on a Government he obviously does not like – and it is for more than political reasons. This, notwithstanding his current position at CCL (which should be a non-partisan body).
I did not know until now that CLC was of the “African Community”. And perhaps it was wrong to use the Bauxite Industry Pension Fund (I do not know about this) but to imply that this was done for reasons of racial bias is indeed incredulous. Then he knocks those African Guyanese who share a differing view.
This is the kind of racial politics that Lincoln Lewis and his ilk use that take away for legitimate criticism of the PPP Government. It can only promote racial disharmony and entrench the PPP grip on power.
You got it right michael, Lewis was and is just a loud mouth,.. unfortunate, the Carribean TUC.. GOES FOR THAT TYPE, ..the ones that have no positive contributions to make.. but use their status to keep Guyanese ethnically divided… the UN. lady who visited for 2 days, and came to the conclusions of Govt. Bias is a”Dork”.. she didn’t have to visit.. she could have stayed in NY. and read these Bloggers,..inputs.. Imagine, the hippocracy of lewis,.. where he rejects, the opinions of one of the Largest union groupings, and a National organisation, ERC.. ALIGN HIMSELF WITH AN OBVIOUSLY , ETHNICALLY BIASED WOMAN WHO CAME WITH PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.. and just visited to legitimise her ..bias. of course Lewis every now and then sings for his supper… that is not to say the Govt. has not presided over episodes of discrimination and bias, by some of its operatives… but to internationalise these indiscretions.. and stamp them as a govt. policy against a particular group.. is flatly outrageous and that UN OFFICIAL, should be banned from ever entering this country again… It also insults the integrity of a significant number of our ruling cabinet.. viz. Drs. Luncheon, Westford, Jeffry, ; PM Hinds,. Benn.. Fox, Rodreagues, Collymore, and others…..
While he might be a loud mouth the PPP is still a heartless bunch.
Just take a look at their decision to ignore the courts and not extend television service to Linden. Look at some of their behaviour when it comes to embracing democratic norms.
…Michael ,,,, by making comments in reference to lewis an de lady ,,wah visit fuh 4 dayz ,, is acknowledging him an her to the point of annoyance ,, like bisram an ah noticing dis gitanjali person ,,
these ppl is all abt seeking to spin webs !
these and some more bring to mind the words of ADDISON !……
here’s what he said.
” A person who has been brought up among books ,, and is able to talk abt nothing else ,, is a very indifferent companion ,, an what we call a pedant. But we should enlarge the title ,, and give it to every one that does not know how to think out of his/her profession and particular way of life “….. is what Addison had to say !…..
Come on Mike if you disagree with Lewis prove he is lying about the subventions taken away and the bauxite pension plan destroyed by the PPP. The bauxite workers are mainly Africans and the College students are primarily Africans. How else you want people to interpret it Mike. You think the PPP would have done this to the sugar workers. If the PNC did the exact same thing to sugar workers and a school Indians in the majority attend would you be singing the same tune Mike.
We may not like to admit it but it is true Africans are discriminated against. I know of a few cases but if I write about them SN will not carry my blog.
From reading Mr. Lincoln Lewis’ letter I think his concern is about the pension plan being broken up. With no pension plan retired workers have no pension. This is UNFORTUNATE. It would be good for SN to do an article on what life is like for these retirees