Guidelines towards better dialogue
SOON after taking office in August last year, President Bharrat Jagdeo met representatives of labour as part of his policy of inclusivity and reaching out to all sections of society. At his first press conference as President, Mr Jagdeo reported that when he met labour representatives, "we...agreed to focus on some issues such as national development strategies, privatisation and Guyana's relations with the international financial institutions." And on Monday, the President met a delegation from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on structuring regular dialogue between them. Despite the press photographs of camaraderie between labour leaders and the President and other top government ministers during the recent holiday season and on previous occasions, the relationship between the TUC and the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) Government has largely been shaky and strained. Since it took office in October 1992, the administration at times seemed to have been at the end of its wits in trying to come to terms with what has generally been regarded as not too friendly forces in the TUC, despite their protestations to the contrary. And the political troubles in Georgetown from December 1997 up to early last year did nothing to diminish this perception. In fact some have argued that some trade unions have at times been the cutting edge of the political campaign. The labour movement continues to have a major image problem and faces the arduous task of convincing its critics that it can rise above the political fray to deal objectively with issues and not be merely the proxies of politicians with other ambitions. The TUC and other labour leaders also have to realise the enormity of the challenges premised by globalisation and the changes that would be required if they are to remain effective defenders of the rights of workers. Early in his term, the late President Cheddi Jagan initiated regular government-TUC meetings and Mr Jagdeo is continuing this tradition. Putting the talks on a structured basis makes a lot of sense as the parties would find, as always, things look so much different when people talk matters over. There is mileage to be gained in talking and finding agreed ground rules for the course almost guarantees covering distance faster. President Jagdeo, at his accession to office, identified the labour movement among the "major players in the society" that he pledged to pull into "full partnership" in trying to introduce a "more comfortable environment for our people and foreigners to invest in the development of the country". Now that the ground rules have been reached, it is up to both sides to ensure that the statutory monthly meetings develop into an important link in the partnership chain towards a better society. Talking can reduce much of the lurking bitterness and there is much to commend the restart of the structured talks between the President, his team and the TUC.
|