By Mark DaCosta- A devastating fire on Saturday morning, March 22, 2025 severely damaged the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The blaze destroyed a huge section of the historic institution, while other parts sustained significant damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the Guyana Fire Service.
Established in 1967, the CLC has been a cornerstone of workers’ education in Guyana. Named after Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, the father of the trade union movement in Guyana and the wider Caribbean, the college was founded to provide education and training to trade unionists and workers, enhancing their skills and understanding of labour-related issues. Over the decades, it evolved into a leading training institute, offering programmes in industrial relations, labour economics, and social studies.
The college’s mission has been to disseminate knowledge to enhance social, business, and agricultural systems, thereby improving the lives of people in Guyana and the Caribbean. Its vision centred on moulding minds for effective service to society and development. Core values included pursuing excellence, fostering diversity, demonstrating integrity, engaging stakeholders, stewarding resources responsibly, and nurturing personal and professional growth.
Beyond its educational mandate, the CLC compound served as a hub for the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), providing space for meetings, conferences, and educational activities. The compound also housed the Office of the GTUC’s General Secretary, making it a significant site for labour rights advocacy.
In recent years, the college faced challenges, including vandalism. In October 2023, vandals damaged washroom facilities, disrupting classes and highlighting the institution’s vulnerabilities. Despite these setbacks, the CLC continued its mission, offering programmes through faculties such as the Guyana Climate Change and Food Security Institute, Centre for Agricultural & Environmental Studies, and Centre for Business Excellence.
The recent fire not only threatens the physical structure but also poses a significant setback to the labour movement and workers’ education in Guyana. The loss of parts of this historic institution is a blow to the nation’s labour movement and educational landscape.
As investigations into the fire’s cause continue, the community reflects on the importance of the CLC in Guyana’s history and the need to preserve such institutions for future generations.
