School teachers on the island have given their full support and backing to the stand being taken by the Grenada Trades Union Council (TUC) against a planned 5% tax on workers salary to be implemented by the Keith Mitchell government.

In a broadcast to the nation, President of the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT), Marvin Andall gave assurances that teachers will resist government efforts to introduce the tax since its members are already hard-pressed financially.

“The harsh reality is that teachers and other workers are at their wits end with scant disposable income”, said Andall in the broadcast carried over the Grenada Broadcasting Network.

The GUT boss was also critical of the waste of taxpayers money by Mitchell’s governing New National Party (NNP) administration since it came to office in June 1995.

“...We are all aware that the Government made a number of bad decisions before Hurricane Ivan which have cost us dearly”, he said.
Following is an edited version of the address delivered by Andall:

Fellow citizens of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, the Grenada Union of Teachers wishes to express its total and unwavering support for the stance taken by the Grenada Trades’ Union Council against the imposition of the unfair and oppressive 5 % Levy.
We may recall the statement of the Minister of Finance when he clearly indicated to the media that the 5% Levy was only considered after public sector unions insisted on the 4.5% increase that was negotiated and agreed to before Ivan.

It is ironic that though the government was demanding that the Public Sector workers forego the increase in 2005, they went on later to give themselves the same increase that they were asking poor and under-paid public sector workers to give up.

Even after the utterance of the Minister of Finance, they will like to get this nation and the rest of the world to believe that there is absolutely no correlation between the 4.5% increase and the 5% Levy. They have grossly underestimated the intelligence of our people.

Teachers, like other public officers, did not in the main receive assistance from government or other agencies since the passage of Hurricane Ivan or Emily, consequently, many of them had to take additional loans to repair the homes and replace personal belongings.

Added to that, the cost of living has been on the increase since the passage of Hurricane Ivan. Even worse, the cost of transportation, electricity and nearly every basic item, would have pole-vaulted since 1st October 2005.

The harsh reality is that teachers and other workers are at their wits end with scant disposable income. Yet many teachers have to give even more financial assistance to pupils in their charge.

It is inhumane, heartless and cruel to take any money from such workers. It is instructive to note that the salaries of workers in Grenada are among the lowest in the OECS while on the other hand, cost of living is second only to Antigua.

Fellow citizens, we are all aware that the Government made a number of bad decisions before Hurricane Ivan which have cost us dearly.

Yet one would have expected that the Government would have recognised the position we were in and exercise some prudence with the management of our limited financial resources. However, the complete opposite is being done.

The 14 million dollars for the emergency Agriculture resuscitation Project was mismanaged to the extent that government was forced to close down the project.

Even worse the housing project was littered with irregularities according to the Prime Minister himself. The Government continues to appoint high paid advisors and consultants to render services that are questionable at this time. Could we for instance be satisfied with the work of the ARD since its establishment?

When one considers the hefty salaries that they are being paid, are we receiving value for money? These questions cannot be answered in the affirmative.

It is ridiculous that at a time when there are schools to be repaired, houses to be built and government buildings still to be rehabilitated, this administration is expending a significant amount on propaganda; something that cannot make the lives of our people better.

Seeing propaganda as a number one priority, the Government has appointed Public Relations Officers in all government ministries. Still not satisfied, it has established a GIS TV channel which runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. How could a government that sees propaganda as its number one priority ask workers to make sacrifice that they cannot afford?

The Government has altered its story to now suggest that the money derived from the levy will be used for Housing, Agriculture and Youth Development. They are yet to give any detail on how the money is to be used in agriculture and housing.

However, they have given some ideas as to how some of it may be spent in youth development. It seems obvious that if a Junior Minister who was receiving $ 65,000.00 per annum inclusive of all allowances is now to receive $ 90,000.00 then additional money will be needed.

The G.U.T. is appalled by the behaviour of the Government in dealing with the present issue with which we are confronted. For months they have blatantly refused to dialogue with the Trades’ Union Council and other social partners on this issue. Their arrogant behaviour is responsible for the crisis which we may face. They have failed to exercise good governance.

We are opposed to the Levy for the following reasons:-

(1). The original intention of the Levy was to react to Public Sector Unions’ request for their due increase in 2005 and had absolutely nothing to do with reconstruction.

(2). The financial difficulties which our members face as a result of low salaries, high cost of living and additional expenses brought about by the two hurricanes.

(3). The reluctance of the government to explore other avenues for raising revenue. The Trade Union Council is suggesting how over 33 million dollars could be raised. And the Levy will raise only 9 million.

(4). The lack of will of the government to take the necessary actions to reduce expenditure even in these difficult times.

(5). The government’s poor track record in managing our resources gives no guarantee that our sacrifice will be an investment in our nation. Our sacrifices can all go to waste.

We have before us many, many days of struggle and of suffering. You ask what is our policy? I will say it is to struggle day and night with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us.

To struggle against a monstrous Levy never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask what is our aim? I answer in one word: victory. Victory at all cost, victory in-spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be. For without victory there is no survival.”

We are totally against the removal of money from the meager salaries of workers at this difficult time.

Workers United can never be defeated!