Georgetown: The Civil Society Organization and Public Policy Think Tank, The GNCPP (Guyana National Council on Public Policy) last week continued its outreach programme to invite understanding and support, especially with respect to its proposed National Conference of Guyana’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and NGO Groups.
The GNCPP, following up on meetings with Heads of Missions of the USA, Mexico and Britain, was hosted by Ambassador Robert Kopecky and the Political, Press and Information Head, Derek Lambe, of the local office of the European Union (EU) Mission. Ambassador Kopecky is the EU Head of Delegation to Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago and for the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories. On Saturday last the GNCPP itself also convened a briefing session with several Trade Unions reasonably representative of Guyana’s Labour Movement.
The EU representatives, as with the earlier meetings with Head of Missions, assured the GNCPP delegation of its support in principle for the organization’s objectives and tactical approaches to empowering Guyana’s Civil Society Movement, under the provisions of the country’s Constitution. Note was taken of requests for specific forms of assistance for the proposed first National Conference of Civil Society N.G.O’s, the ultimate objective of which is to establish the first ever Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC). The EU’s local office will continue to confer with the GNCPP on this project almost immediately.
Among the trade unions represented at the GNCPP – Labour Movement encounter at the Cara Lodge were the umbrella Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) itself,the Trade Union Congress (TUC) the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union (GPTWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) a FITUG affiliate; the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU), Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU), the General Workers Union (GWU) and the Head of the Women’s Advisory Committee of the GTUC who is also a Commissioner on the Women and Gender Commission.
Spirited exchanges followed the outline of the GNCPP’s Mission, explained by GNCPP Chairman Dr. Philip H. Mozart Thomas, as veteran unionists queried the role of a still-emerging Civil Society Movement vis-à-vis the local Labour Movement. As a consequence the trade union leaders eventually all pledged support for the GNCPP’s long-term programmes, inclusive of the planned August Civil Society Conference.
Next on the GNCPP’s Outreach agenda are the Faith Base Organizations including the Council of Churches and three more Heads of Missions as well as the imminent opening of the GNCPP local Headquarters Office. GNCPP Head Dr. Thomas is also scheduled to accept invitations to meet with like-minded support groups in the USA, London and the Middle East, after a major private Guyanese donor visits with the GNCPP in Georgetown this week.
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