TRANSPARENCY & UNIONS

"Rat tongue is sell he head."  One of, if not the most ubiquitous of Guyanese adages, is what came to mind when I recently read in the newspaper an article quoting the General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers' Union, Coretta McDonald. McDonald boldly declared that there was a secret corporate sponsor providing funding for the teachers' strike. Please note that the teachers are legitimately entitled to strike. This is not about the strike. It is about the possible compromise of a union which,  ultimately could have an effect on future general elections.

In other words,  both sides of the divide would have benefited. Ergo, the opposition then  arguing that the government  received alledgedly tainted support would now be effectively neutralised.

If ever there is a perfect storm for raising red flags, I dare say this is it. Who is this mysterious "corporate" benefactor? Why now? What does this benefactor expect or want in return?  Who, or which single entity in Guyana has that kind of disposable income to fund a strike such as this? Is it normal practice to secretly fund strikes? Does this secret funding not raise ethical issues amongst the administration of the teachers' union and its members? There are no apologies to be made when I categorically say that transparency matters.

If you like, call it an overabundance of cynicism coupled with a large dose of skepticism but one cannot help but question the why and wherefore of this corporate sponsor that is shrouded in secrecy. This also begs the question are the teachers  pawns and in whose game? Since I could not recall if in the history of the GTU, previous strikes had received financial support from a  "secret corporate sponsor", I made several enquiries from different teachers, including family members. Unanimously, they all stated that they had never before heard of the GTU strikes having a secret corporate sponsor.

As this was being written, my attention was drawn to a protest on February 7th by the embattled teachers. Reports alleged that during this, teachers were heard chanting "Mohamed has our back."

If this is true, and a part of me is feverently hoping it is not, this is a most dangerous path on which to embark for several reasons.

Coincidences are not something in which I am inclined to place much stock. Quiet recently,  Education Minister, Priya Manickchand made the news with respect to a spat with former Local Government Minister, Nigel Dharamlall on social media. The trouble began following a social media post by Team Mohamed's Azruddin Mohamed,  posing with schoolchildren, after having made donations to their school. The following day, the Education Ministry then issued a circular dated January 30th last. This missive entitled "Unauthorised access to learners",  began by stating that following complaints from concerned citizens, teachers and parents, indicating that persons and organisations were accessing school properties, engaging the minors and publishing their photographs as advertisements and promotions without permission. It further detailed that anyone seeking to make donations or distribute gifts must have written approval from the ministry.

Taking umbrage at the curtailing of its donation exercises without prior permission, Team Mohamed fired back with another Face Book post.  It referred to Education Minister Manickchand's circular as "draconian". Highlighting, that they shared a twenty-year relationship with Minister Manickchand as their lawyer and friend, the post declared that the minister is "fully aware of our generosity and social responsibility." The post added that at no time did Mohamed go to a school "or reached teachers or students without receiving prior approval." From another Face Book post, Team Mohamed  indicated that it had so far assisted some four hundred schools.

Subsequently, the former minister who was accused of sexual offences against a minor, Nigel Dharamlall, shared Team Mohamed's post decrying Manickchand's action on his social media page, saying "just stay focused Team Mohamed's and continue as a strong supporter of the PPP/Civic."

It is alleged, that Dharamlall's post was in retaliation to Manickchand's response to a question posed on a Face Book post with respect to whether the circular also applies specifically to Dharamlall in the wake of the allegations that had been made against him. Manickchand responded "yes it does."

Reportedly, Dharamlall also accused Manickchand of wanting credit for the construction of a bridge used by school children in Region Seven. It must be noted that  Dharamlall did not name Manickchand. He said "a certain minister."

Manickchand wasted no time in responding under Dharamlall's post that "we" meant the PPP government collectively. She said that he was quite free to post, adding that if people were still paying attention to him, it would help. Dharamlall then answered that the sector for which Manickchand bears responsibility was in disarray, whilst she lays the blame elsewhere for her failures. The education minister then told her former colleague to "just get."

Interestingly, soon after the public spat, on February 7th, Team Mohamed was on the school donation campaign trail again. However, no mention was made of him having received the now requisite prior written permission. The post merely  boasted that Mohamed had fixed the cement dust floor at Itballi Nursery. It added despite numerous complaints from parents and teachers, nothing was done until he intervened.

On February 5th, the country's teachers went on strike. The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) called out its members to protest poor salaries and other working conditions coupled with the refusal of the PPP/C goverment to engage in collective bargaining for a multi-year agreement which was being sought since 2019. The Ali government, deeming the strike illegal, has threatened to not pay the striking teachers. It has also halted the deduction of union dues from the teachers' paychecks.

It is no secret that undoubtedly, withholding the already meager salaries from the striking teachers will cause undue hardship. It is not unheard of that members of the public provide support in various forms to people on picket lines. However, the trouble begins when  teachers could become unwitting pawns in some person(s) grand scheme.

In light of all that has transpired before, it is setting a dangerous precedent for a businessman seemingly at odds with the Education Minister to allegedly be secretly funding the strike. To the right thinking man in the street, this "support"  would fall into the murky water category.

Apart from the foregoing, there is the much graver issue of the alleged nefarious dealings of the Mohameds. In July of last year, the international news service Reuters, ran a special report stating that the United States was probing an Exxon Mobil contractor in Guyana. The report named Mohamed and his father Nazar "Shell" Mohamed  and indicated that US government officials repeatedly warned Exxon Mobil to avoid doing business with the two who, face an investigation  on suspicion of money laundering, drug trafficking and gold smuggling. The Mohameds who also have close ties to the ruling PPP/Civic government, have since denied all the accusations.

Here is where the judgement of the top brass of the GTU would come into question if indeed, Mohamed is the secret corporate sponsor. By no stretch of the imagination should any businessman who is under such a cloud of suspicion, inclusive of money laundering allegations, be allowed to financially support a strike; much more in secret. The fact that the General Secretary McDonald is comfortable reportedly accepting money from a "secret corporate sponsor" on behalf of the union,  in itself speaks volumes. The ramifications of accepting this type of "help" are risky to say the least. While, one cannot read minds, it is not unreasonable to question whether there is some  quid pro quo expected in return  for this largesse. Surely, the GTU's administration is not that naive to think that this corporate sponsor's generosity is entirely altruistic in nature. So ultimately, what is the catch? Could it be that in the future, McDonald and her cohorts will be expected to in return urge teachers to lend support for whatever Mohamed's end game is if indeed he is the secret benefactor?

Perhaps, it would be prudent for the GTU in the interest of transparency, to be more forthcoming as to source of the financial support provided for the strike,  be cognisant and exercise caution in what may very well be a case of Greeks bearing gifts.