MAY 15

More than fifteen hundred (1500) workers marched through the streets of St. George's on Labour Day (May 1) chanting a number of anti-government slogans as they headed onto the Tanteen play field for their annual celebrations.

The workers, marching under the chosen theme of the Grenada Trade Union Council (GTUC), "Unions and workers in a global economy", blasted the ruling New National Party (NNP) government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell for what they described as its gross mismanagement of the nation's affairs.

One of the Government Ministers who came in for heavy criticisms from the workers is former trade unionist Claris Charles who is now the Minister of Labour in the NNP administration.

The workers labelled Minister Charles as "a big coward" and one who is "totally afraid" to take part in what she started a few years ago when she led hundreds of workers to demonstrate in the streets of St. George's against the then National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of former Prime Minister, Sir Nicholas Brathwaite.

Charles and other trade union leaders had led hundred of protesting workers to parliament to demonstrate against attempts by the Brathwaite government to pass legislation to prevent workers from striking in certain essential services.

The current Labour was at the time President of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT). The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) was forced to use barbed-wire fencing to try and keep out the workers from entering the compound of parliament that was in session.

Charles was the subject on Labour Day of several songs from teachers such as: "Claris Charles, she send to say, she's afraid to come to May Day", "She is the same leader, who pulled down Barb Wire, but now she's afraid to face the fire".

Several workers from the other unions like the powerful Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU), Grenada Manual and Maritime Workers Union (GMMIWU), Public Workers Union (PWU), Bank and General Workers Union (BGWU), and GUT were also seen carrying anti-corruption placards as well as placards in protest of the recent hikes in the prices of rice and milk.

Some placards also called for Dr. Mitchell to step down as Prime Minister and for his deputy Gregory Bowen to resign from office over recent developments in the country. A few weeks ago, the London-based Privy Council handed down a ruling in which Bowen and the Government of Grenada were ordered to pay 17 million dollars (EC) in compensation to Dipcon Engineering Services, a Trinidad construction company for illegally terminating its contract in 1995 to engage in road work on the island.

A number of the marchers were seen carrying placards asking where the country will get the $17 million dollars to pay Dipcon.
One of the other high points of this year's labour day celebrations was the lighting of candles by members of the various unions at the national rally in Tanteen in remembrance of their fallen leaders and members over the years.

This year's event was overshadowed by a split in the ranks of the local trade union movement with two affiliates not taking part in the annual march.

The Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union (SWWU) which often supports the Mitchell government stayed away from the function and used the occasion to stage a march to the St. George's cemetery to lay wreathes on the grave side of some of its late leaders.

The Commercial & Industrial Workers Union (CIWU), after being suspended from the GTUC, decided to stay away from the main event and held its own march of members to its headquarters located along the Grand Anse road.