Despite concerns over its lack of financial transparency spanning nearly 35 years, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the government will not de-recognize the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU). Jagdeo, while acknowledging that there is legal grounds for such action, emphasized the need for strategic foresight as he believes going that route would be exploited for political gain.
“They would just use it propaganda wise like how they use everything; they put everything to race, (and say) oh, we (the government) hate this union, and all of that stuff,” he noted.
The backdrop to this decision stems from a series of allegations levied against the GTU regarding the management of its financial affairs. Vice President Jagdeo had raised doubts about the union’s financial transparency during a previous press conference, citing the absence of a comprehensive audit since 1989. He expressed concerns over the management of substantial funds accrued from teachers’ dues over the years, questioning the credibility of the union’s leadership.
These concerns were further substantiated by both the Audit Office and the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority. The Audit Office revealed a startling lack of audits conducted since 1989, spanning a period of 35 years, while the registry disclosed that the last financial statements were filed in March 2005.
Notably, Section 35 of the Trade Union Act mandates that every registered trade union must annually submit a statement of its financial affairs to the Registrar. Failure to comply can result in de-recognition. It states, “A general statement of the receipts, funds, effects, and expenditure of every trade union registered under this Act shall be transmitted to the Registrar before the 1st May in every year, and shall show fully its assets and liabilities at the date, and its receipts and expenditure during the year preceding the date, to which the statement is made out.”
Following his denial of the GTU’s financial unaccountability on Wednesday, President of the Union, Mark Lyte appeared unfazed by the prospect of the union being de-recognized, pointing out the absence of a functioning trade union recognition board and suggesting that any hasty establishment of such a board would raise concerns about the government’s intentions.
Furthermore, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma came forward yesterday to emphasize the exclusive authority of his office to audit the financial statements of the union, refuting the union’s claims of having external audits performed.
While the government acknowledges the legal grounds for de-recognizing the GTU due to financial irregularities, Vice President Jagdeo said it must resort to other measures apart from de-recognizing the union. “So I believe that we have to—going forward take firmer steps against the union but also (consider) that the membership of the union has a responsibility to hold the leadership to account.”
With approximately $2 billion in teachers’ dues reportedly unaccounted for, concerns about the union’s financial mismanagement have been amplified.
