“The time has come for government to be active, in a major way, in workers’ education. This could either be done through the Ministry of Education or by giving grants to unions and other genuine social organisations with proper supervision and accountability, to invest in the education of our working people,” said Komal Chand, GAWU’s President. The benefits to citizens, the economy and country are obvious, he added.
General Secretary of the Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG), Kenneth Joseph said the Critchlow Labour College has the potential to compete with labour colleges in the region but it has been “run down”. He called on the authorities to put aside politics and race and make that institution “work” again.
The opening of the GAWU college is the realization of a cherished dream, Chand said. He disclosed the structure and its furnishings cost $110 million. The college includes two classrooms which can accommodate 35 and 30 students, a conference room, a recreation room and library and a dorm which can accommodate 35 students.
Education has been a fixture on the union’s agenda, Chand said. “The thrust of our educational work…is to provide the essential tools and knowledge to our members to be more and more effective at their workplace and in their trade union work,” he continued. Chand asserted that workers must learn from the global financial crisis’ exposure of the capitalist system. With the crisis sweeping developed and developing countries, class issues are playing out, he said. In these times, workers need to be extra alert because a new breed of “robber barons” gave emerged, he added. “Ruling circles which serve them are feverishly engaged along with their apologists and handmaidens, in taking measures to defend, protect and preserve the old order. Division of the working class and taming the workers are national objectives of neo-liberalism and their arsenals are filled with tricks, stratagems and weapons to achieve their ends.”
He said the college has much to do and while it will be for use by GAWU members, hopefully, it may also serve other sections of the working class as well as other segments of the population. Through the college, GAWU is making its contribution towards workers’ education but more needs to be done and more resources devoted to this objective, Chand declared.
He said the college will serve workers form the several entities where GAWU is recognised. “We hope as our programmes develop to be able to include members of our sister unions in the future,” Chand said. He added that the intention is to accommodate GAWU’s members who wish to move to higher professional levels by providing training is some “appropriate subjects and develop certificate and diploma programmes that can be fully accredited and recognised”.
This week’s opening of the college was chosen to coincide with the activities to observe the birth anniversary of the late president Dr Cheddi Jagan. Former adviser to the President on Science and the Environment, Navin Chandarpal is the Principal of the institution. The college is adjacent to the union’s headquarters on High Street, Kingston and its construction was funded by the union’s resources.
Present at yesterday’s opening were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and other government ministers. Director for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, Dr Ana Romero urged the college’s authorities to create linkages with similar institutions. She committed to support the college.
Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh also pledged the support of his ministry. Speaking on collective bargaining, he said this has to be restored. Veteran trade unionist Ashton Chase also addressed the gathering.
