Submitted by Guyana Trades Union Congress – Press release, 26^th January, 2015

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) registers shock and disgust that the Government of Guyana has decided to reschedule CXC examinations, a regional calendar item, to fulfil their need. CXC is a timbale event, not only national in nature but also regional. To shift the CXC speaks to questionable integrity in this whole act. Why change the regional calendar event to meet a desperate need to host elections around Arrival Day and purported visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. This shift in dates add pressure to our children looking to conclude schooling by a particular date, and teachers who will now have an additional timetable to keep students focused on the added month to complete exams.

There is no national disaster to justify shifting a regional exam of such import. One can only suspect that the Ramotar regime places the future of our youth second place to the desperate quest for election victory.

The PPP had long enough to determine an appropriate elections date, whether it is a month before or month after. Outside of there being a national disaster or declared war, the GTUC condemns any attempt to reschedule CXC exams. This is the height of ridiculousness. This matter speaks to the need for all Guyanese to rally together and say to the Ramotar regime, “enough is enough!” We cannot allow our children, our children’s future, to be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

At best this decision is thoughtless, but given the nature of this administration it is easy to perceive that here is also another dilatory action on its part, knowing fully well that any successful objection to the rescheduling of CXC and another request by the electorate will result in extended period of PPP prorogation and shutting out of the other elected decision- makers from Parliament.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution allows for the government in power to determine the date of elections, this does not mean that regional and national calendar date and other significant national events should be dishonoured. It is leaders such as those we are witnessing from the PPP that requires not constitutional change but continued constitutional review and reform where necessary as permitted under Article 119A, to prevent those who will seek to violate the trust of the people.

GTUC once again reiterates its call for statutory date(s) to be set for elections, except in case of untimely removal of the government through a passage of confidence vote, of which Article 106 (7) already addresses in the Constitution. In this history of post independent Guyana we have never witnessed such manipulation of parliament and elections date as yet.

The GTUC will be dispatching letter of concern to the CXC headquarters and CARICOM heads, questioning either their knowledge and/or facilitation of the rescheduling of CXC exams, and if necessary their continued subjugation and support of PPP manipulation and poor governance, now directly affecting our children and the future, not only of Guyana but the Caribbean.