The Private Sector Commission has joined the Federation of Independent Trades Union of Guyana (FITUG) calling on the government to declare November 28, Election Day, a national holiday.
GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald
“We feel that making elections day a holiday would remove some pressure from the security forces. Making the day a holiday would also give freer access to the polling stations by employees and electors. We also believe that it will encourage a larger voter turnout, which is necessary if the true will of the populace is to be reflected in the polls,” the PSC said in a statement.
On Monday, FITUG called on the administration and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to declare polling day a national holiday.
“In order that no voter, including FITUG’s 35,000 working members, face any type of constraint which could possibly impede his or her right to vote on Monday. FITUG proposes that the day be declared a national holiday by the Ministry of Home Affairs in good time,” the union said in a release on Monday.
The release noted that “hinterland residents will, therefore, have ample time to plan to get to their polling places and no employer anywhere will be in a position to impede or influence employees who wish to vote between the stipulated voting hours.”
That aside, FITUG said the “declaration in good time will afford government, private sector, commercial and educational facilities – many of them polling places – [time] to plan and adjust for this polling day holiday.
“FITUG urges urgent positive consideration of this proposal in the national interest.”
The Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) however believe that there is no need for Election Day to be a holiday.
“Why would we want to have a public holiday on Monday? Never had it before. I don’t see why we would want to have a holiday on Monday… I am certain persons know what they have to do on Monday… go early, and those who would have gone in to work would get time off… those schools that would be used obviously will be closed. I don’t see a need for a holiday on Monday,” said GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald.
