Dear Editor,
Finance Minister Winston Jordan was heard on Sunday on “Groundings” discussing the 2017 National Budget, in which he sought to get personal with me given that the trade unions and private sector have sought an audience with Leaders in this National Assembly about the budget. This opportunity is taken to remind Minister Jordan that as a member of the Executive, elected under the Representation of the People’s Act, he is in service to the people. This is our political system and it ought not to be lost sight of by citizens, be they elected, appointed, and within the rank and file.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress, of which I am General Secretary, seeks audience with the Leader of the Government Business (Moses Nagamootoo), Leader of the Opposition (Bharrat Jagdeo), and the Speaker (Barton Scotland). This audience is consistent with the Tripartite nature of governance that exists in the International Labour Organisation, of which Guyana is a member. Further to that, for the GTUC it is consistent specifically with Articles 13, 23, 38, 147, 149C of the Guyana Constitution.
The Minister of Finance may refer to this civil request and constitutional obligation dismissively but such is a reflection of his misunderstanding of governance, his role in the process, and outright contempt for the rule of law. The two Social Partners (Employer and Workers’ organisations) in soliciting a meeting with the third partner (Government) are not operating outside of their role and duty to society under the law and international conventions.
Further, as citizens and stakeholders where the right to freedom of expression, including that of dissent, is constitutionally protected, expressing concerns about the budget ought not to have attracted arrogance from a servant of the people, were he understanding of his role.
The minister may not like that the social partners are seeking audience with the leaders of the National Assembly, but let me assure him in governance gut feelings and name calling ought not to drive decision-making. Decision-making is driven by international conventions, charters, universal declarations, laws and time-honoured principles, all being applied within a given policy.
As an aside, note is taken that in the debate the minister was proud to promote a budget of conflicting economic models, by saying he ‘cut his teeth’ under the leadership of Clarence Ellis, who was Chairman of the State Planning Commission. I knew Ellis personally and in an intimate way.
The Minister is being advised that Clarence F. Ellis would not have countenanced lots of the measures he placed in the budget, and he would have known that a Green Economy model is vastly different from the Gross Domestic Product model and mixing the two is not practical or wise.
Ellis was a progressive thinker who cared passionately about people and their development. He would not have supported any measure designed to impoverish the people and put basic essentials out of their reach. Ellis would not have tolerated an increase in salary of 50 percent for the ministers of government, president, and members of parliament. In his straight shooting style he would have told Jordan, “not under my watch!”
It is expected that the constitutional leaders in the National Assembly would acknowledge their responsibility to the people under the law and hold the meeting as requested by the trade unions and private sector.
This country does not belong solely to Jordan and he must understand once he holds a constitutional office and is paid by the people, he will be subject to scrutiny by the people and their representatives. Prudent politics dictates that he takes note and acts accordingly. This is about understanding the principles of governance which he has a responsibility to Uphold.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
