Minister Scott apologises for statements about FITUG, GTUC

Two days after implying that the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) are impotent bodies, Minister with responsibility for Labour, Keith Scott is apologising for his statement.

On December 20, 2016, the Minister was responding to questions in relation to the allocation of $24M to the Guyana National Cooperative Union Limited (GNCUL) when Opposition MP, Jillian Burton questioned whether that money could not be better used by the GTUC and FITUG to which the minister stunned the house by saying “You would recognise the virtual impotence of those two bodies.”

During a Press Conference on Thursday (December 22, 2016), Minister Scott said, “I made the mistake, that statement is regrettable, I’m solely responsible for the statement being made. I take full responsibility for saying so, and it takes nothing out of me to say to FITUG, GTUC, media and to the citizens of Guyana, that I’m sorry.”

He was at a press conference in the presence of Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, GTUC’s General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis and other members of FITUG and GTUC.

Minister Scott said that while the situation is unfortunate, he has always been committed, and will continue to be dedicated towards trade unions, and the principles of trade unionism and brotherhood. He added that since his assumption to office, he has been pursuing the goals of trade union unity, even among unrecognised unions.