Georgetown: Consistent with the historical struggles of the GTUC for universal adult suffrage (one man one vote) and good governance, the GTUC recognises that the people through elections and exercising their franchise can make a difference.
Below is a statement from the GTUC:
“ It is the people through their vote who determine which political party will lead us and determine the development of their nation and conditions under which they must eke out a living. Towards this end and at this crucial juncture of our national direction GTUC is exercising its civic responsibility to aid in increasing the awareness of eligible voters that their vote is the means through which they exercise their power.
Your Power is Your Vote campaign will be centred primarily in South Georgetown, Region 10 and through our affiliates. South Georgetown is in the heart of the capital city and the last elections show that a number of persons did not vote in this area. Region 10 had a 76 % turnout. Democracy can only be strengthened and deepened when the populace is fully engaged and involved. We are prepared to work to make this possible.
The vote is legitimate, it is a constitutional right, it is free yet priceless. Voting is an exercise of people's power. This power must be spent wisely and must not turn around and convert those whom it elects to kings and queens ruling over their subjects. It must elect servant leaders who must know that they have to serve or be kicked out at the next elections. Voting is easy to do, it is a responsible exercise of each person's franchise failing which then each person must live with the consequences of not exercising the right to choose a government that can govern in the interest of all.
A lot of hope has been vested in the PPP and Messrs Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar have dashed these asunder. They have failed the people, their supporters and the nation. They have failed the old, the young, even the dead and the unborn. A look at the LeRepentir Cemetery will prove this and the conditions under which families have to live and raise their children, their education and survival in growing state of deprivation and a debt burden that our children will have to carry are sufficient testimony how even before our children are born they have been failed.
The level of corruption by the Jagdeo/Ramotar leadership, mismanagement and poor governance is unprecedented in Guyana. The policies of the Jagdeo/Ramotar leadership have proved them to be divisive, and instead of healing the nation, they have deepened the wedges. The right to collective bargaining and freedom of association has not been universally upheld. Some unions enjoy these rights whereas others are trampled on by the government. These men and women of the government are paid with taxpayers’ money from all sections of the Guyanese community not just their supporters to protect and defend the rights of all citizens.
GTUC will be engaged in the 2015 electoral campaign encouraging eligible voters to get out and vote. GTUC campaign will be to encourage voters to exercise their franchise and be guided by the issues that are most important to them and Guyana. GTUC will go on record that it has no confidence in the Donald Ramotar leadership of Guyana and therefore we are not supportive of another PPP term. Worst yet when his presidency is overshadowed by the presence of Bharrat Jagdeo.
Of deep concern to the GTUC is the effort to stifle freedom of expression, speech and the sharing of ideas through media suppression, intimidation, pervasive fear to speak one’s mind and government domination of the media landscape- be it print or broadcasting. This society is being brainwashed by the proliferation of media message by the PPP government, party and allies. The denial of the right to freedom of expression poses a threat to free and fair elections. In an environment where persons are denied opportunity to hear all sides, it denies person the right to make informed decision and by extension cast a vote premise on this.
We are in elections season yet nothing has been done to correct the anomaly in ensuring equitable access to the opposition in state media, which has control in radio, television and print. Freedom of association is under threat as persons live in fear of being seen breaking ranks. Quite recently we see the attack on retired military men and women who are supportive of the APNU+AFC alliance even though the PPP themselves embrace military men in their government. What is good for the PPP is inherently bad for others as they continue to fool this nation and distort our realities to control how we think and act.”
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