By Mark DaCosta-The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is continuing its protest against Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., calling for his removal following his mishandling of a racial abuse incident earlier this year. The protest, outside the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on November 27, centres on allegations that Ramson failed to act appropriately after Ian Ivor Thom, a prominent sculptor and administrator of the Burrowes School of Art, was subjected to racial slurs. The GTUC’s leaders have voiced frustration not only with Ramson’s handling of the situation but also with wider government policies that they say fail to address workers’ rights and social justice issues in Guyana.
The protests, led by GTUC President Norris Witter and General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, have gained attention as they highlight both racial discrimination and the growing concerns surrounding the welfare of the Guyanese working class under the current People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government. The issue at the heart of the protests is Minister Ramson’s response to an incident in which Thom, while at the Burrowes School of Art in September, was racially abused by a driver who had parked illegally. When Thom approached the driver to inform him of the parking rules, he was met with a barrage of racial insults.
After the confrontation, Thom was summoned by Ramson to discuss the incident. However, Thom said that rather than addressing the racial slurs, the minister focused on verbally attacking Thom. Mr. Thom felt unsupported and disrespected by Ramson’s response, leading to his resignation the following day. This sparked outrage, particularly from students at the Burrowes School of Art, who condemned the minister’s handling of the situation and called for justice. Thom later reconsidered his resignation and returned to his post, but he has not received a formal apology or any recognition from the Ministry of Culture.
The GTUC has been outspoken in its demand for Ramson’s removal, criticising the PPP government’s failure to address the issue properly. During the picketing, Witter stated, “Today [November 27]marks the 4th day of picket actions by the GTUC over the despicable behaviour of Minister Charles Ramson Jr. against Mr. Thom. It also marks 82 days since Mr. Ramson absolutely disrespected Mr. Thom.”
Witter stressed that despite repeated protests and calls for accountability, Ramson had not apologised for his actions. He pointed out that while Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had come closest to acknowledging the wrong done to Thom, it was Ramson who had directly mistreated him. “It was not Jagdeo who blatantly disrespected Mr. Thom, it was Ramson. He is the one who owes Mr. Thom an unequivocal apology,” Witter declared.
In addition to calling for Ramson’s removal, Witter and Lewis have been critical of the government’s broader approach to racial and social issues. While Witter’s remarks to the media focused on the racial abuse of Thom, Lewis has expressed the expanded scope of the protest to include wider concerns about the government’s treatment of minorities and the working class. In his remarks, Lewis noted, “We have a president, Irfaan Ali, who talks about ‘One Guyana,’ but under his stewardship, we have a government that has a policy of discrimination.”
The veteran trade unionist accused the government of hypocrisy, stating that the administration pays lip service to inclusivity while perpetuating practices of discrimination that harm ordinary Guyanese. Lewis further asserted that the government was not genuinely working for the benefit of all its people but was instead serving the interests of a select few, with the working class and minorities bearing the brunt of this neglect.
The GTUC has also raised concerns about the economic challenges faced by the people of Guyana. Witter emphasised that while racial discrimination remains a key issue, the union is also focused on the broader socio-economic issues affecting ordinary Guyanese, including poverty, rising costs, and lack of opportunities. “There are other issues, apart from discrimination, that plague the ordinary people of Guyana: poverty, homelessness, high prices, and numerous other problems,” he said. He indicated that the union would seek to incorporate these concerns into their ongoing campaign for reform.
As the protests continue, the GTUC has made it clear that they intend to broaden their actions beyond picketing. Witter announced that the union would not only continue its twice-weekly protests but would also explore other forms of activism to press for the removal of Ramson and demand broader reforms. “We will continue our protest actions, we will widen our actions to include other forms of protest, and we will continue until ordinary Guyanese get what is rightfully theirs,” he affirmed.
The protest against Minister Ramson has thus become a focal point for broader discontent with the government, touching on issues of racial justice, workers’ rights, and economic inequality. With the GTUC vowing to expand its campaign in the coming weeks, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the growing calls for accountability and reform. As the protests gain momentum, the pressure on the government to address the concerns of the Guyanese people continues to mount.
