During the year, the GAWU had expressed its concern regarding the situation unfolding at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) where our union enjoys bargaining rights. The Commission was confronting severe financial difficulties which were significantly impacting the workforce. On many occasions, workers’ salaries were delayed sometimes for long periods and other benefits were not honoured in a timely manner. We did have the opportunity to engage Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman and pointed out that the Management had absolutely no right to delay payments to workers.
It did not escape our attention that at the GFC, the National Budget Estimates pointed out that the surplus of the Forestry Commission declined from $213M in 2013 to an expected $2.2M in 2019. In the same period, though revenues rose from $711M in 2013 to an expected $1.435B in 2019, a 101 per cent rise, expenditure has risen from $498M to $1.432B, a 187 per cent rise. The increased expenditure could have some relation to the Commission being charged with additional responsibilities. We urged that given the roles of the Commission in protecting a significant natural resource of our people, the State, we felt, was obligated to provide appropriate support to ensure that the Commission effectively discharges its expanded mandate. The Union pointed out to Minister Trotman that the Forestry Act stipulates that any shortfall in the Commission’s expenditure be charged to the Consolidated Fund.
Since the meeting, we have gathered that the situation has improved. While heartened by that development, we are aware too that the Commission is not out of the woods so to speak. There is still the necessity to address fully the shortfall in funding if the Commission is to adequately fulfill its mandate.
