The 60th Anniversary of Independence provides an opportunity not only to celebrate nationhood but also to honour those whose sacrifices made it possible. The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) salutes the generations of workers who built this nation through their labour, courage and determination. From the plantations and mines to the classrooms, hospitals, factories and public institutions, workers have been the architects of Guyana’s progress and the guardians of its democratic development.
This occasion is also an opportunity to remember that the struggle for Independence did not begin in the halls of political power. A century ago (1926), it was organised labour, led by National Hero and Father of Trade Unionism Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, that laid the foundation for the freedoms Guyanese enjoy today. The labour movement championed the fight for workers’ rights, social justice, universal adult suffrage (one man, one vote) and internal self-government, helping to create the conditions that ultimately led to political independence. Guyana’s democratic journey is inseparable from the sacrifices and struggles of the working class.
The story of Guyana’s development did not begin with oil, nor with any one government. It was forged through the sweat of bauxite workers, sugar workers, farmers, teachers, nurses, public servants, miners, artisans and countless others whose contributions laid the foundation for national progress. Their labour built our institutions, sustained our economy and strengthened our society.
As we commemorate this historic milestone, we do so with pride in our achievements but also with concern for the state of our nation. Guyana today possesses unprecedented wealth and opportunity, yet many citizens continue to grapple with rising living costs, economic insecurity and widening inequality. The true measure of independence is not the wealth a nation generates, but whether its people enjoy a fair share of that prosperity and the dignity that comes with it.
We are equally concerned by the divisions that continue to undermine national unity. Political tribalism, exclusion, intolerance of differing views and unequal treatment have no place in a democratic society. A nation cannot achieve genuine unity when sections of its population feel marginalised, unheard or excluded from meaningful participation in national life.
National unity must be more than a slogan. It requires respect for democratic institutions, adherence to the rule of law, accountability in public office, social justice and equal opportunity for every citizen regardless of race, religion, class, geography or political affiliation. Unity is built through fairness and trust, not through rhetoric alone.
As Guyana marks sixty years of Independence, the GTUC calls on all Guyanese, and particularly those entrusted with leadership, to recommit themselves to the principles that inspired the struggles of Critchlow and the generations that followed: democracy, equality, inclusion, justice and respect for human dignity.
The sacrifices of those who fought for workers’ rights, political representation and national self-determination demand nothing less. Let this Diamond Jubilee be not only a fleeting celebration of our past achievements but a renewed commitment to building a Guyana where democracy is strengthened, institutions are respected, opportunities are shared and every citizen has a stake in the nation’s future.
Happy 60th Independence Anniversary, Guyana.
Guyana Trades Union Congress Independence Message 2026
