Fires Won’t Silence GTUC, Critchlow Labour College and Independent Labour

Another suspicious fire has struck once again, this time erasing the entire physical infrastructure of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and its education arm, Critchlow Labour College (CLC).  The first fire was on March 22, 2025 and the second on July 31, 2025. GTUC meanwhile is awaiting a report of the previous fire which is also suspect.

It is not lost on us in the GTUC and the CLC that the fire is a weapon being used to destroy our symbols of strength; our distinguished work in contributing to the development of Guyana; an exercise of greed and covetousness to deprive the Labour movement of its own assets.

We are aware further that some may see the GTUC as inimical to their interest.  Overshadowing that, this attack for whatever reason is a blatant attack on the independent labour movement of Guyana, a historical and indigenous institution that has shaped the very foundation of Guyana’s development impacting every citizen, every worker, past, present and potential. It is an attack on freedom and progress.

The unleashing of fire against the GTUC and its education arm will not silence or stop the work of the independent trade union movement, and its educational arms. It will not stop the will of the people and will only commit the movement to be more resolute in fighting against all forces formed against them.

The destroyers of the building will not quell the passion of the affiliates of the GTUC to rise again and rebuild. GTUC urges all its affiliates not to weaken in the presence of those who seek to destroy our movement even in this  recent escalation of attacks..  We must remain resilient.

Independent labour will not be daunted, for the steadfastness that resides in us is built off decades of successful struggles from Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Jane Phillips Gay, Joseph Pollydore and others too numerous to mention.

Today we call on every citizen of Guyana to be awakened to the reality of what is happening to independent labour and what is happening to our country. This attack is also an attack on every Guyanese who needed and looked for a second opportunity as a means of their development. It is an attack on the bastion trade union movement in Guyana, our history and our culture.

GTUC represents not only the struggle for better wages/salaries and condition of work but for good governance, rights and the rule of law, enactment of international human rights and labour standards. It is an attack on an organisation that is non-discriminatory in its very nature, for every member, every beneficiary, is a worker, that is the only criteria required. And because every citizen of Guyana is a worker, the blow struck on GTUC is a blow against all Guyanese.

The education arm of the GTUC has served hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, from all walks of life, all ethnic groups, from all parts of Guyana, over its 50 years of existence. A great percentage of these the opportunity of a Critchlow education to enter into the Cyril Potter College of Education, University of Guyana and other tertiary institutions of learning.

There is no trade unionist in Guyana today that can separate itself from the GTUC at some point of its existence.

In the aftermath of the last fire President Irfaan Ali publicly announced the government will help the GTUC to rebuild. GTUC holds President Ali accountable for his promises

Four months later the GTUC is still awaiting a report on the cause. GTUC calls on the Guyana Fire Department to release the first report. At the same time GTUC takes the opportunity to thank the Fire Department and all who assisted in containing the inferno   to protect from the nearby properties.

Lincoln Lewis,
General Secretary
GTUC
August 1, 2025