In its recent announcement the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) unhesitatingly lends its support to the protesting students of Montreal, Quebec
, Canada and the workers who have come out in their solidarity and defence.
“The GAWU hereby expresses its international solidarity to the months-long resistance of the student-unions militant activities in Canada, based on the following understandings.
That the students actions are rooted in a decision to raise tuition fees which are seen by the wider community as a first step to institute austerity measures as seen in Europe.
That in response to the students demonstrations and other actions, the Government introduced Bill 78. It is easy to discern that Bill 78 – the obvious draconian law contains measures affecting students’ right to freedom of expression and to assemble in their student unions. The right to peaceful protest will be severely eroded under the provisions of this law passed by the Provincial Government of Premier Jean Charest.
No legal organized representative of workers anywhere should tolerate this potential injustice against Canadian students. GAWU calls on the Quebec government to reconsider the vital, anti-student and repressive articles of the Bill – if not the entire piece of legislation.
The protest – so far unprecedented in recent Canadian history has brought out over 300,000 persons on the streets of Montreal and reports indicate that over 1,000 persons have been held by police. In recent days the students prolonged protests have been joined by Trade Unions, labour leaders and lawyers and have received sympathy and active solidarity from within Canada and other countries.
Greater solidarity with the students especially from workers and Unions will serve as a strong counterforce to the authorities who would continue to marginalize the rights and benefits of students, youths, workers, pensioners to maintain and protect the exploitative status quo.
Guyana’s GAWU, therefore, standswith the students and workers of Quebec, as it appeals to Quebec’s Provincial Government to cease the brutalization and repressive actions of the young protesters; to negotiate the repugnant aspects of Bill 78 and to recognise its citizen’s right to protest and participate in legislative and constitutional decisions that would impact upon their studies and their future. We note with concern the harm to democracy that Bill 78 would cause and could very well be interpreted as yet another erosion to democratic norms that Canada advocates.”
That the students actions are rooted in a decision to raise tuition fees which are seen by the wider community as a first step to institute austerity measures as seen in Europe.
That in response to the students demonstrations and other actions, the Government introduced Bill 78. It is easy to discern that Bill 78 – the obvious draconian law contains measures affecting students’ right to freedom
of expression and to assemble in their student unions. The right to peaceful protest will be severely eroded under the provisions of this law passed by the Provincial Government of Premier Jean Charest.No legal organized representative of workers anywhere should tolerate this potential injustice against Canadian students. GAWU calls on the Quebec
government to reconsider the vital, anti-student and repressive articles of the Bill – if not the entire piece of legislation.The protest – so far unprecedented in recent Canadian history has brought out over 300,000 persons on the streets of Montreal and reports indicate that over 1,000 persons have been held by police. In recent days the students prolonged protests have been joined by Trade Unions, labour leaders and lawyers and have received sympathy and active solidarity from within Canada and other countries.
Greater solidarity with the students especially from workers and Unions will serve as a strong counterforce to the authorities who would continue to marginalize the rights and benefits of students, youths, workers, pensioners to maintain and protect the exploitative status quo.
Guyana’s GAWU, therefore, standswith the students and workers of Quebec
, as it appeals to Quebec’s Provincial Government to cease the brutalization and repressive actions of the young protesters; to negotiate the repugnant aspects of Bill 78 and to recognise its citizen’s right to protest and participate in legislative and constitutional decisions that would impact upon their studies and their future. We note with concern the harm to democracy that Bill 78 would cause and could very well be interpreted as yet another erosion to democratic norms that Canada advocates.”
