Embracing Christ’s Teachings in the Fight for Justice and Equality

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) extends Easter greetings to all Guyanese, especially our Christian brothers and sisters. In these times of trials and tribulations, it is important to remind the Christian community of its moral and spiritual obligation to emulate the life and work of Jesus Christ.

While Christ urged His followers to render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar—such as obeying the law and paying taxes—He also denounced leaders who governed without compassion for the vulnerable.

This Easter, which holds profound significance for the Christian faith, symbolises the power of love, sacrifice, and a compassionate approach to our fellow man. The resurrection of Jesus Christ brought salvation to all, affirming the fundamental Christian belief that all are equal in worth and dignity.

Yet, Guyana continues to face a deepening crisis in governance—one marked by the marginalisation of the vulnerable and the treatment of half the society, particularly those seen as government critics, as outsiders and unworthy citizens.

Disparities in the management of the economy are widening. Civil society’s calls for inclusion in national decision-making processes are consistently ignored, despite Article 13 of the Constitution mandating inclusionary democracy. The poor and vulnerable are denied social and economic justice.

Meanwhile, inflation continues to rise, eroding real wages pushing essential items out of reach for the working poor, pensioners, and the unemployed.

Guyana is fast becoming a tale of two cities, moving further from the founding vision of treating all with respect and dignity under the banner of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”

A sense of hopelessness hangs over the nation like a dark cloud. Though Guyana boasts of being the world’s fastest-growing economy and among the richest per capita, the vast majority of Guyanese do not benefit from this prosperity. Wages, salaries, and pensions have not kept pace with the rising cost of living. One-off cash grants are a band-aid solution—many use them not for investment, but to pay off mounting debts.

According to recent World Bank data, approximately half of the population lives in poverty. A UNICEF report highlights that 20% of Guyanese children suffer from “severe food poverty,” meaning their families can afford only two food groups per day, while 40% experience “moderate food poverty,” receiving just half of their required daily nutrition. These are troubling signs that, despite the oil boom, many Guyanese are no better off than before.

For the GTUC, the suffering of one is the concern of all. Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.

The Christian God is a God of mercy, but also of accountability. The GTUC calls on the Christian community to put on the full armour of God, to stand united, and to go into the highways and byways doing the will of the Father. As Isaiah 1:17 commands: “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause.”

Let this Easter be a time of renewed purpose and spiritual awakening—where Christians in Guyana, as in times past and in other nations today, rise to take a public stand for justice, equality, and righteousness.

May this be the beginning of a brighter, more compassionate tomorrow.