GPSU – Message on the Occasion of Fathers’ Day 2024 from Ms Dawn Gardener, 1st Vice President

GPSU President, Patrick-Yarde

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) extends Fathers’ Day Greetings to all Fathers nationally and internationally, principally those that deliver quality Public Services. Historically, Fathers’ Day was founded in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd to celebrate fathers, especially her own Father, a Civil War veteran, William Jackson Smart, who was a single-parent raising six children. This day honours the contributions of fathers, the silent heroes and the foundation of the family structure. The presence of fathers in the homes and institutions of society is a vital aspect of growth and development of the members therein. As it relates to Labour, the father of trade unionism in Guyana, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow laid the early foundation for the just and equitable treatment of the working-class people of Guyana.

This reminds us that fatherhood is a responsibility of moulding our children and those within local institutions to build a stronger, more unified and prosperous Guyana. It remains challenging for Fathers to face the rising cost of living and properly and adequately provide for their families, while being low wage earners, creating a vulnerability of Fathers to provide a decent life for their children. Compounding this fact is the global economic environment impacted severely by wars, climate disasters, and rising social inequality. This has resulted in many Fathers across Public Services silently facing this grim reality, being driven daily into further poverty.

The GPSU advocates for the Government to put in place mechanisms necessary to enhance opportunities and growth of micro enterprises among the working-class people. With committed efforts on the part of the Government, Fathers in the Public Service can provide their families with a decent life. The GPSU continues to advocate that the Government have fair tax justice for all Public Servants, and similarly, the reduction of tax burdens on workers, the raising of the tax threshold and decreasing the exorbitant tax rates for the working poor, which will put more monies in the pockets of workers. The huge tax breaks offered to transnational billionaire corporations is anti-national and irresponsible, and is an inequitable and unjust tax policy of the regime; this situation is insensitive to the economic situation nationally and more can be done locally.

The sub-standard living of Guyanese must be significantly improved. For far too long we have been relegated to poverty and kept there. Change must come. People Matters! People before Profit! The GPSU urges that all fathers continue to be diligent in pursuit of what is best for your families and country.

Guyana, as an oil producing nation, can do better and the powers that be must stop the selected handouts, utilize the resources to benefit all groups in a sensible way. Respect the workers and pay them a living wage, so that they can live a life of decency.

Despite these challenges, the GPSU calls on all fathers across the Public Service to remember that on this special day to always care for your families and your country; to keep your hands upon the throttle, and your eyes upon the trajectory of growth and development for our best days as a people united are ahead.

Once again, a Happy Fathers’ Day to all Fathers.