By Trevor Thwaites (St.George's correspondent)

ST.GEORGE's, Grenada:The Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) says that it will recommit itself to advocating and agitating for the rights of workers. “TUC has to become a watch dog and at the same time partner with other social organizations to ensure that there is good governance,” President of the council Mrs Madonna Harford told workers at the Labour Day at the Tanteen Playing Field. She said that the TUC will fight to ensure that the small pie will be evenly distributed.

Harford said the TUC will rally to ensure that the country’s scare resources are spent wisely and that the politicians exercise prudent judgement in the affairs of the country. The TUC is not happy with the governance at this time because it says that a lot of wastage and duplication are occurring. “With good governance, a developing country like ours can prosper and advance. Our scare resources must be properly utilized for the development and people of the nation,” she told the gathering.

The TUC chief said that good governance means the involvement and participation of all and called on the authorities for dialogue and consultation. “Consultation is indeed a necessary tool to get our people involved in the planning and development of the country.” Harford has called on her membership to show solidarity at all times in the struggles that lie ahead. “In an organization like ours, the principle must be, one for all and all for one,” she said.


Harford assured members that the TUC will continue to fight against the imposition of the National Reconstruction Levy that could lead to abject poverty, the reconstruction problems and the high cost of living. She admits that financial resources for reconstruction purposes are necessary, but said that the revenue could have being raised by the proposals submitted to the government by the TUC. They included 5%-10% tax on cell phone cards, 10% increase on Land Transfer Tax in the interim, 7% General Consumption Tax on services ( an increase of 2%) and 3% on Tax on Gross Sales of businesses for a short period of 36 to 60 months among others.

The TUC boss congratulated the many workers who participated in the Red Day March that protested the imposition of the NRL, which she said was a tremendous success and vowed to fight on. A minute silence was observed for the late stalwart and former president of the TUC Derek Allard, who was missing for the first time in many years. The rally paid tribute to Allard for the outstanding contribution he made to the union.

For the fourth year running, the May Day rally was not attended by the Minister of Labour, after relations turned sour between the TUC and government at the Tanteen rally in 2002, when the then minister Lawrence Joseph was taunted by the workers. Labour Minister Clarice Charles two years ago requested security, which has not been granted by the TUC. May Day was celebrated under the theme: Workers advocating for social and economic advancement through good governance.