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Trade unionists should be free to hold opinions without interference and exchange information and ideas through any media, regardless of borders. The State must not interfere with the exchange of information. Examples of this might be: tampering with correspondence; surveillance of workers in respect of trade union activities; or interference in union meetings and the exercise of free speech (Excerpt from ILO).
In response to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s threat the government will go after social media influencers, and whilst he was not specific in identifying who these persons are, this page out of recognition trade unionists are influencers and use social media, presents herein the workers/citizens’ rights as enshrined in international conventions and the Constitution of Guyana
Article 19- of the United Nations Human Rights Declaration states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Article 146 ‘Protection of freedom of expression.’ Constitution of Guyana expressly states:-
“(1) Except with his or her own consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his or her correspondence.
“(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this article to the extent that the law in question makes provision –
(a) that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health;
(b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights, and freedoms of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless broadcasting or television, or ensuring fairness and balance in the dissemination of information to the public; or
(c) that imposes restrictions upon public officers or officers of any corporate body established on behalf of the public or owned by or on behalf of the Government of Guyana;
(d) that imposes restrictions upon any person, institution, body, authority or political party from taking any action or advancing, disseminating or supporting any idea, which may result in racial or ethnic divisions among the people of Guyana.
“(3) Freedom of expression in this article does not relate to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons.”
