Georgetown: Even as the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) continues to violate the laws of Guyana and transgress the rights of Guyanese, President Donald Ramotar is scheduled to visit the Upper Berbice River on Wednesday, March 11 to commission the Kurubuku mines, the largest proven bauxite deposit in the Berbice River that will be exploited by these exploiters of Guyanese resources, labour and human rights violators.
The President’s visit is seen as an act giving legitimacy to all the violations and transgressions committed by BGCI on Guyana’s soil. Note, that both President Donald Ramotar and his predecessor President Bharat Jagdeo have ignored the continued violations of Guyanese labour. It is 5 years and counting since BCGI has taken a decision to flagrantly disrespect the Labour Laws of Guyana causing workers, their families and the community to suffer. Workers of BCGI are working, subject to the dictates of an uncaring employer and this government that preaches working class unity, that claims it is executing the dreams and legacy of the late Dr. Cheddie Jagan is giving support to the continued violations and undermining of Guyanese sovereignty.
The laws of Guyana are to be upheld by all and the ruling of the court should be upheld. In the case of the workers of BCGI versus the Government of Guyana this is not so. The company continues to violate Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul, a former leader in the trades union movement has not moved to have this law respected in as much as a commitment was given by government to the court in 2012.
That this violation of the laws of Guyana, the rights of bauxite workers are allowed to be transgressed by BCGI without timely resolution speaks to administrative collusion that leaves the GTUC and independent thinkers with no choice but to conclude that in Guyana bauxite workers, are less valued than their counterparts in other industries and communities where the government enjoys political support. The five years plus unresolved labour dispute is a stain on this government that speaks to its unwillingness to govern in the interest of all Guyanese and hence its unworthiness to continue in this regard.
The mine that is being commissioned by President Ramotar has poor working conditions for Guyanese labour protected under the labour laws of Guyana. BCGI continues to arbitrarily reduce and impose new benefits to workers in the form of vacation and days-off. There continues to be violation of the Occupation, Health and Safety laws where accidents and industrial deaths have become a regular feature, preventive measures are being compromised. Health benefits, retirement, pension plan are now being ignored. There is no break/lunch room, toilet and other basic facilities. Workers are exposed to public health hazards, safety and occupational disasters to enrich foreign masters and be taught a lesson by an uncaring administration. To facilitate the president’s visit portable toilets and tents are now being rented by the company. However, basic amenities for the workers are still ignored.
A few weeks ago the community of Hururu which adjoins the Kurubuku mines, was hoodwinked into signing a 25-year lease for 27.4 prime acres of land at $5000 per acre – facilitated by the Government of Guyana. The Minister of Amerindian Affairs who presided over this agreement is notably one of the beneficiaries of dental work valued at $2.1 million dollars of tax payers’ money. Such are the violations of this government aiding and abetting BCGI and Bai Shan Lin. The environmental and labour violations of RUSAL, the parent company of BCGI are universally known and evident in Russia where RUSAL operates. Where any government partners with a foreign source to violate any of its citizens the people in whose hands ultimate power rests should signal their collective disapproval.
GTUC calls on all Guyanese to recognise that the claim by this government of being working class centered must be reviewed for merit. For at the very center of a working class ideology is care, consideration, and the protection of all workers' rights not just some. It is time for all Guyanese to recognise that the claim of "working class" is nothing more than a political mantra, a campaign gimmick that has been used for years to galvanise the support and loyalty of Guyanese workers identified as supporters for political power.
The claim of a working class government that does not see policies and practices transcending all of Guyanese labour; that when based on the reality of working class destruction, in the public service, the bauxite industries and other areas not seen as traditional PPP support leaves no doubt that this term was adopted to use workers as a conduit for self-serving masters to divide and rule. The Bharrat Jagdeo/Donald Ramotar leadership confirms this is so, hence their claim to a working class legacy must be scrutinised from all angles. For if this is the legacy, then Guyanese have been fooled for decades of the working class nature of the PPP and hence the dilemma in the bauxite industry and the disrespect for segments of the labour force.
