In a message to mark the festive season, which has just ended, GTUC President and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union, Mr. Carvil Duncan, pointed out that Government cannot, by itself, reverse the declining national conditions and restore hope and bring about national prosperity.

"In this regard, we must liberate ourselves from the prisons of the past and inaugurate new forms of governance; create greater space for the contribution of others. These urgently necessary initiatives must not be viewed as concessions, but instead as acts of conviction emerging from a philosophy of what is best for Guyana," Duncan said in his message.

The full text of the message reads:

"The Guyana Trades Union Congress extends sincerest greetings to all workers and unions and the citizens of our country. It is our hope that your holidays will be joyous and that your New Year will be rewarding and fulfilling; it is my privilege, as President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, to extend best wishes and express the fervent hope for a brighter tomorrow; a prosperous and predictable national environment.

This is indeed a season for reflection and resolve. It is a time for reviewing and planning. It is a moment for analysing the year that is passing and looking forward with hope and realism. We would be failing in our duty as citizens; neglectful of our obligations as workers and members of unions; and delinquent as union officials if we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by the festivities and not concerned about the realities.

The labour movement is obliged to ponder the pathetic performance of the national economy. We believe that it is toil and sweat and creative energies of workers that transform ideas resources into wealth. We hold the unassailable view that our country's prosperity is inextricably connected with the prosperity and improved well being of workers. Therefore, we must investigate the forces and analyse the causes that have delayed, and in other cases, frustrated the legitimate, reasonable and realistic and expectations of workers.

It is painfully evident that our national economy has not expanded at the required rare in order to create new and diversified jobs for the army of willing and energetic individuals prepared to create wealth for the nation and earn rewards for themselves. Regrettably, the season finds, many young people who have bought into the philosophy of pursing higher education and delaying gratification, in a quandary. The private sector, confronted by its own challenges, has been unable to offer employment in sufficient measures to those seeking jobs and willing to work. The public sector in pursuit of mandated reform holds little hope for school leavers and graduates.

As a nation we must devote greater attention and sympathetic consideration to the unemployed, the under-employed, the poor and suffering among us, those whom our economic system has failed; those who are too weak to compete and too battered to retain hope. And the trades unions are not the only voices in this regard. The churches, fearless as John the Baptist, must once again bring and Biblical perspective to this human condition. In addition to the moral requirement, Churches would do well to consider that a significant proportion of those in their pews are also workers and are beset by these very conditions.

There is, I believe, an undeniable relationship between our economic state and the rise of unsocial behaviour. The social partners must commit themselves to principles and actions that engender hope and reduce the despair of the many among us. The workers understanding of inflation and perception of economic growth are not to be found in nice speeches nor in statistics but in their cupboards and referenced in their pay packets.

The GTUC holds the view that Government cannot by itself, and without the equal participation of the other social partners, reverse the declining national conditions and restore hope and bring about national prosperity. In this regard we must liberate our selves from the prisons of the past and inaugurate new forms of governance; create grater space for the contributions of others. These urgently necessary initiatives must not be viewed as concessions but instead as acts of conviction emerging from a philosophy of what is best for Guyana.

We congratulate the Government and social partners for their roles in securing of further debt relief for the country. It is our expectation that the benefits of the poverty reduction strategy will in a non-partisan be spread throughout the country and become a catalyst for job creation.

Let us admit that in spite of the many challenges of 2003, all have not been dismal. Many workers displayed their entrepreneurial abilities and created their own jobs rather than waiting for employers. Additionally, there were moments when our political leaders appeared to know the national reality and attempted to disband political camps in the interest of the nation. Sadly however, those shining moments were too brief and consequently their impact not permanent.

In the coming year the labour movement must consider ways of reconfiguring the elements and the general idea of workers' benefits. Changes in the global economy are spawning changes in the domestic economy. We need not fight to retain the past in its old forms but battle to ensure that the combined elements of the future advance the cause of the work force. We must therefore, redefine our permanent interests while modifying our strategies. We must redefine our context by seeing both opportunities and challenges.

In our pursuit of peace and understanding, the labour movement as a social partner must consider ways to best influence the politics and policies of our country. We must not surrender the determination, through creative compromise, to find ways to heal the unnatural rapture in the labour movement. Raising the union profile and the strength of unions must be our concern. We must become capable of identifying the specific challenges facing different sectors and ready to develop a long-term strategic vision to promote the benefits of being a union.