GAWU 37th Republic Anniversary Message

If there was one national, political and constitutional event which attracted local political agreement and virtual countrywide consensus, it was the decision to transform Guyana to a Republic.

So it was that independent Guyana, just four years after attaining independence from Britain, proceeded to Republican status on February 23, 1970.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), as it wishes the nation a happy thirty-seventh Republic Anniversary and a Merry Mashramani festival, again takes times off to wonder and assess just how well – or badly – we Guyanese have fared as a 37 year old Republic.

In a world that is inevitably inter-dependent, how liberated are we as a nation-state? Indeed, we have abandoned settling our toughest, intricate legal problems at Britain’s Privy Council, we assumed complete control of our national defence responsibilities and we instituted all the ceremonial trappings and symbols of Republicanism – including a Guyanese Head of State to replace the Monarchial Queen of England. But national collective HONESTY will dictate that the assumption of Republican status and developments afterwards did not produce the comity, harmony or unity a Republican Nation/State should be characterized by.

For two decades after 1970 Guyana struggled with rigged elections which denied the majority their will – a key ingredient Republicanism promised. Economic crises attended the splintered society which saw thousands becoming immigrants in other lands. Other CARICOM member-states passed us by as we squabbled, deteriorated and looked outwards.

In late 1992 fundamental governmental change was ushered in as the vote became free and fair once more. But the losers were upset at losing political power. More bitterness and bullyism was generated, influencing investors and governments who sought to assist.

Never-the-less, GAWU, a union representing workers in vital economic sectors, has witnessed the efforts at development over the past decade and a half. GAWU regrets that our people, denied
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collective forward-movement since the fifties, are made to expend their energies just fighting fear and destruction. We implore the President, the Government and the Parliament of all the People’s
Representatives to use this anniversary to truly commit themselves to national economic development and social justice for all our peoples. Let’s GET TIRED THROUGH CONSTRUCTIVE NATION-BUILDING- AND NOT BREAKING.

GAWU’s Executive, Staff and Members pledge to do all in their authority to forge national consensus for development. Just as we agreed on Republicanism thirty-seven years ago.

Guyana deserves success from now far beyond this anniversary. Let’s all work towards this. Let the working-class level where we can force our elected leaders to listen and inform their policies and actions with our just demands.

HAPPY 37TH ANNIVERSARY!

MERRY MASHRAMANI 2007!!