Submitted by Guyana Consul Norman Faria
The Consulate is deeply honoured and pleased to be once again assisting Guyanese workers to show friendship and solidarity with the Barbadian people and government in this most significant celebration of the struggles of working peoples around the world.
This year’s participation of Guyanese one again comes against the backdrop of democratic minded peoples, their organisations and their governments, facing challenges following recent financial and other economic downturns starting in the US economy. The repercussions from this meltdown are already being felt, as reported, here in Barbados and other regional countries and worldwide.
As is natural and historically worldwide, the organisations of working peoples and their allies will support the just actions, including those of their governments and the private sector, to safeguard their interests and the hard fought for achievements as a whole.
Guyanese contract workers, those on work permits, are participating in the annual May Day activity in Barbados once again. This is being done to symbolically show friendship and solidarity with the Bajan people and their government in these challenging times . By working together, we can achieve a just and lasting solution to the reported difficulties. We can continue on the good road of progress and democracy traditionally found in Barbadian society.
We must work together. This is better than engaging in any ultimately futile and divisive top-of-the-list argument that “home drums beat first and non-nationals should be the first to go”. Most reasonable minded Barbadians would share the commendable reported view of BWU official Robert “Bobby ” Morris that, against the background of the movement to a Caribbean single market and economy, any labour market shifts should be on a merit/performance basis. Commendable stances have also come from the other major trade union, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) where I was honoured to participate in a seminar on migrant workers.
Guyanese work permit holders and others have in recent years assisted immeasurably in the Barbados construction sector, including the new Kensington Oval where just under 35 per cent of the workforce , with various sub contractors, were Guyanese nationals. The agriculture sector has also benefitted while the countless Guyanese nannies, home helpers (maids) and care givers (taking care of elderly and sick) are doing their part in Barbadian homes . Just as Guyanese agricultural workers have helped the island’s economy in ongoing efforts to produce more locally grown food, these industrious and caring nannies, home helpers and caregivers have made it easier for the Barbadian workforce to be more productive among other benefits.
I have personally found very few Bajans who would decry the contributions of these hardworking, decent Guyanese who may have to sometimes stand up for their rights. . Very few Bajans would allow them to be scapegoats in any remedial strategies facing the challenges as reported. Very few Bajans would support any measures to divide us.
The Consulate salutes the Barbadian people and their government, including the loyal opposition both in and outside Parliament, on the occasion of May Day, this most auspicious of working peoples’ holidays. It commends the BWU’s General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman and other union operatives and rank and filers for keeping the meaning of this workers’ day alive. The Guyanese government and people, through its Consulate in Barbados, see this modest, symbolic gesture contributing in its own small way to the continued good and friendly relations between the peoples and governments of Guyana and Barbados.
The Consulate has pleasure too in also assisting in the “Guyanese Tent” at the end of march rally site where traditional Guyanese food will be on sale at reasonable prices. As well, an appreciative Consulate Award will be presented to the family of the late Guyanese worker Kanak “Kumar” Ramsaroop who faithfully supported for nearly ten years the ideal of international workers’ solidarity by building and marching in the May Day activity. A joiner and carpenter, “Kumar” died in March. Only two days before his death he, as a member of the Planning sub-committee, went over details about this year’s participation with Consul Faria. Family members in Barbados will continue participating in May Day, and in other programmes, in his memory.
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