– brought justice and justified the correctness of our positions
2018 indeed was a remarkable year, it brought justice, though somewhat delayed, to our workers; it demonstrated the correctness of our positions and showed us that despite adversity and difficulty we can succeed to realizing our reasonable objectives. The year also brought us sadness as we saw firsthand the difficulty of a jobless life and the heartbreak and sorrow it brings. Indeed, the year was momentous on several fronts but it ends not on a positive note. Today, too many of our people are finding life difficult; they don’t know where next to turn and what next to do.
Next year we observe a centennial of Trade Unionism in Guyana. For the Guyanese working-people it is a proud achievement especially taking into account that the establishment of the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU), now the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), on January 11, 1919 marked the first time that an organization to advocate on behalf of workers had been established outside of our colonial master – Great Britain. The trade union movement was birthed at a time of simply high taxes, declining wages and unemployment, but also a rapid increase in the cost of living and a monocrop economy in recession. The unemployment and underemployment that characterized the colony were exacerbated by the high direct and indirect taxes that were imposed on the poorest segments of the population. Our contemporary times, we recognise bear a strong semblance to the situation of a century ago. This is not a positive sign.
We see the year coming to an end when our country, too, has arrived at a critical crossroad on the road to progress. The spirit of nation-building and greater progress is being overtaken, it seems, by self-interests and narrow political ambitions. We must take note of this, but also take heart in the belief that the obstructionists to progress will have their schemes aborted.
As past generations of workers have shown us we can overcome adversities and win out if our demands and struggles are just. This is their abiding lesson to us. This enduring message we should not forget. The working people must be always vigilant, militant, organizationally strong and united, and must always raise the banner of solidarity.
