Call for Freedom, Equality and Justice for All On the International Human Rights day

Sixteen (16) days ago, the President, Executive Council and Members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), joined with the world in recognizing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Therein, we reaffirmed that women’s rights are human rights.

We expand our advocacy, to recognizing International Human Rights Day, which is being celebrated under the theme ‘Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.’ It is the celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which, since 1948, have become more recognized, but less guaranteed across the globe.

In the context of Guyana, the Universal Declaration influenced the promulgation of certain basic rights which were reduced into law in our Constitution. These include women’s rights, secure protection and due process of law, which includes respect for the role of the judiciary and its processes, the duty of citizens to participate in developing our democracy and economy, the guarantee of decent work, and equality of opportunity, which includes the payment of a living wage.

THIS YEAR, 2023 International human rights day is being celebrated at a defining moment in our country’s history. First, our goodly neighbour to the west, has launched yet another unfortunate attack at our sovereignty, by their frivolous, and unmeritorious claim over Guyana’s Essequibo, territory which were delineated and definitively settled by a binding, full and final arbitral award in 1899. This action is an attempt to violate article 15 of the Universal Declaration, which guarantees Guyanese living in this county, the right of national existence.

Second, Human Rights Day 2023 is being recognized at a time where Guyana is experiencing exponential economic growth, with rising consumer inflation at the rate of 1.80% in October, 2023 as compared to September, 2023 at 1.03%, and 0.33% in August, 2023. The daily experiences of many Guyanese in the public service, is not reflected in policy decision making that accounts for such issues as inflation and economic growth. This is evident by government’s announcement of a paltry 6.5% across the board increase in salaries for public servants. This figure was plucked from thin air, and arrived at in the absence of due process, and regard for legal processes set out by law to facilitate change in conditions of service (remuneration) of workers.

In this context, the GPSU wishes to recall that the role of government is not to dictate, but rather to facilitate the building of a viable economy and an inclusive and harmonious society. The imposition of salary increase, in the absence of due process, or broad participation, is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Guyana, including the right of free association as is guaranteed under the UN declaration for Human Rights, and the ILO Convention no. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise. It is for these reasons, that the GPSU has sought declarations from the High Court, that this conduct of the Government of Guyana of plucking figures from thin air, and thereafter imposing it on public servants to the exclusion of collective bargaining with recognized trade unions, is unlawful.

Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. 2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. 3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. 4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

The GPSU also notes the proliferation of vile political attacks in the form of demotion, transfers and dismissal of public servants, many of whom are identified by the apolitical disposal of their duties, religion, gender, and race. Specific mention is made of health care workers, who are currently being denied a living wage, with adequate risk and other allowances. This category of workers, who are predominantly women, continues to be singled out by government in its exclusionary approach to governance.

On this international Human Rights Day, the GPSU calls on the Government of Guyana and all stakeholders, to recognize that we are living in perilous times. The threat of climate change, rising inflation, and potential incursion of our territory, are among the reasons for us to work together in achieving lasting freedom, equality and justice in every sphere of life for our people.

Happy International Human Rights Day to all.