After three decades GPSU still has same leader

GUYANA - The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has known the same President for the last 30 years and that body has not been audited in the last fourteen years. This state of affairs was made known at a picket exercise outside the union headquarters on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Street on Friday last. According to GPSU member Jermaine Hermanstyne, the union is being run like the private property of the GPSU President Patrick Yarde. Hermanstyne said that Yarde has been president of that union since 1987 and no one seems to be able to unseat him, based on an election process that he branded as ‘suspect’. Hermanstyne also said that the union has not done an audit of its financial affairs since 2003; something that is in direct contravention of the union policies. “The rule is, an audit should be done regularly and should be presented to its members at a biannual delegates conference”. When clarity was sought as to why such events are allowed to continue, Hermanstyne alleged that the makeup of the executive council has played a pivotal role in Yarde being president for so long. He said that the council is made up of 60 percent of retired individuals that are emotionally attached to Yarde. Added to that he said that these retirees have no constituencies that they represent, hence they are not advocating the views of anyone. Hermanstyne alleges he was forced out of the union because he has been outspoken about the union’s shortcomings.

Another individual in the picket line said that the president’s salary is almost $1M a month and at 72 years old it’s time that he relinquish the presidency and allow someone else with fresh ideas to take up that responsibility. According to the member, in 2005, Yarde said he was going to lead the GPSU for one additional year and then step down.

(kaieteurnews.com)