Joint Press Statement Between
Guyana Trades Union Congress and Guyana Public Service Union
Science, Laws and Appropriate Resources Must Guide Covid-19 Decision Making.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress in collaboration with The Guyana Public Service Union stand in resolute solidarity with workers and members of the public who exercise their rights to choose not to be vaccinated and will fiercely defend those rights with every legal method available to us.
The Government’s current approach to the managing the Guyana’s Covid-19 pademic is nothing short of government/employer tyranny; the blatant violation of laws and transgression of workers/citizens’ rights are abominable. Effective management of this grave health crisis necessitates decision-making which must be guided by science, laws and resources; with broad meaningful involvement of all the stakeholders, including the Trades Union Movement. The Trades Union Movement will not condone willy-nilly infringements of the right of workers/citizens.
The Trades Union Movement have long repudiated the executive lawlessness displayed by the Government of Guyana regarding its blatant disregard of The Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Public Service Union for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and International Labour Organization Conventions 98 and 154. This new breach of individual rights and freedoms coupled with despicable and unlawful coercion tactics will not be countenanced by its members.
Coercive mandatory vaccine dictats which pressure citizens into receiving medical treatment against their will is a violation of Part III article 9 of The Medical Practitioners Act (Act No. 16 of 1991) and the Ministry of Health Patient Charter 2018. The individual’s right to keep his/ her medical information private are protected by article 10 of the same law and provisions in the Patient Charter. The lock out of Health Care Workers which occurred at Linden Hospital Complex and The COVID 19 Hospital as well as Maritime Workers is a breach of article 12 of Public Utility Undertaking and Public Health Services (Arbitration) ACT Chapter 54:01 and the Avoidance and Settlement of Dispute. The unlawful request for workers to cover the expense of their COVID 19 test required by regulation is a transgression of article 47 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act Cap 99:10 Part IV.
Threatening workers who exercise their rights is a violation of article 58 of Occupational Safety and Health Act Cap 99:10. Denying the public access to health care is a breach of the unconditional right of every citizen to free medical attention and social care enshrined in Article 24 of the Constitution of The Cooperative Republic of Guyana. It is a grave transgression of rights to require from workers a negative PCR COVID-19 test or vaccination as a pre-condition for continued employment.
All these breaches of the law while public servants have not been afforded pay increases for the last two years, while prices are increasing, while employees are unlawfully sent home and shut out, while citizens are barred from accessing public services will not be tolerated by the Guyanese people. The question that arises is ‘What next’?
Covid-19 vaccines are not mandatory by law. The weight of evidence before us has established that vaccines are not the great panacea for the Covid-19 pandemic; therefore, vaccine hesitancy is inevitable, particularly in light of the ease and speed with which facts float across the globe.
It is tantamount to a kind gesture to suggest that Guyana fumbled in the initial stages of combating the pandemic, and the clumsiness with which we got off the ground in the Covid-19 battle did not inspire confidence and trust during a period when trust was paramount as the world negotiated a tricky Covid-19 crossroad.
It cannot be deemed an act of reason by the governing authorities to pursue herd immunity by arrogance and brute force. First, let this be made very clear: We shall abide by universal conventions, principles and laws, and are not opposed to anyone taking the vaccine. The Trades Union Movement is opposed to a ‘head-in-the-sand’ approach that refuses to acknowledge and allay citizens’ legitimate fears about the pandemic and the vaccines; particularly for those who have pre-existing health conditions and are disallowed the opportunity to determine what vaccine they take or whether they should take the vaccine at all. The Trades Union Movement are opposed to the absence of transparency in handling the pandemic because transparency is vital to building confidence.
We are opposed to the unilateralism displayed by the government in the management of a crisis that requires collaboration. We are opposed to the use of any vaccine not approved by the only international authorising agency- the WHO. We are most concerned about the safety and health of the working class and their families. But surely the Government cannot realistically expect all the people of this country to simply ‘trust and obey’ as if there is no other way.
The governing authorities must first and foremost address and assure this nation of the following: -
- The adequacy and availability of vaccines based on the population eligible to receive same. The Government must provide to this nation evidence that it has a supply of the required amount for the population’s size.
- The citizens of Guyana need to know how many approved WHO’s vaccines are in the government’s possession. This includes the first and second dose, and the process of procurement.
- The Citizens of Guyana who took the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine (which has not been approved by the WHO) and are awaiting the second dose must be informed immediately how soon this will be made available to them. Citizens should be assured of the efficacy of those vaccines in light of the gap between the delivery of the first and second doses.
It is the duty of the state to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. However, this duty does not lend itself to brute force and arrogance. Decisions must be guided by science, consensus, laws and available resources.
The nation is also aware that the Government has taken the decision that those who are not vaccinated cannot enter government agencies. When the government failed in the first place to get its act together, that government must not prevent citizens from going about their legitimate business, whether they are vaccinated or not. The agencies are free to do COVID-19 pre-screening and must enforce COVID-19 guidelines on the premises.
Government must cease antagonising and dividing the nation in the handling of the virus. The rank and file must not become the social and economic victims of government’s failures and employers’ arrogance. Rights and laws must not be transgressed to mask what is evidently poor handling of the pandemic. The Trades Union Movement strongly condemns the mismanagement of this health crisis in Guyana which must end now.