Dear Editor,

The integrity, reputation and laws of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) must be preserved. There are two burning issues currently engaging the corporation, namely: 1) termination of over 130 workers deemed as casual and 2) surcharging workers. The resolution to these issues is largely dependent on the application of the Post and Telegraph Act, the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, and the Collective Labour Agreement between the GPOC and the union.

Mr Juan Edghill, Chairman of the GPOC Board, by his public pronouncements has immersed himself in the identified issues which fall within the jurisdiction of the Postmaster General. In fact the Post and Telegraph Act, Section 5 clearly states the functions of “the Postmaster General shall be the chief executive officer of the Post Office which shall have the management and charge of, and shall exercise supervision over, the postal system established under this Act.” This section makes it very clear that the Chairman and the Board have no executive responsibility and therefore no day-to-day management responsibility for the GPOC. It therefore means that the parties who should be having engagement in the stated issues are the Postmaster General and his management team and the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union, the workers’ representative.

Laws, principles and rights are fundamental to development and progress in every society and they must be honoured. Consistent with the Post and Telegraph Act, the Postmaster General needs to be given the opportunity to perform his functions. The union should be allowed to engage management consistent with the Collective Labour Agreement between the two parties. Mr Edghill should be dissuaded from usurping the Postmaster General’s authority and operating in contravention of the law. Doing otherwise undermines the laws and principles of this state institution which provides critical service to the society. If this is not corrected it will only be a matter of time before every member of staff thinks it’s OK to disregard laws, principles and agreements, thereby causing dire consequences for the public.

Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis