-85,000 Hindus, Christians for Mash 2011
Just last Friday I had opined that the typical working-class Guyanese citizen cares little about (macro) economic issues or the more sophisticated even if necessary, questions of fiscal management – or our foreign policy.
I say still, poor struggling, law-abiding folks contend with their immediate and short-term bread-and-butter, quality-of-life realities. They could and should be pardoned for not bothering with the big picture. In this context, the Big Economic Picture, even though that surely impacts on the very smaller daily issues which affect their standard of living in this Big Beautiful Blighted Land. Suppose I asked you: If one of our five major industries – sugar, rice, gold, bauxite, seafoods – was to collapse completely, which one would cause our fragile economy, the most national harm? Even learned, professional economists would have to give that some informed thought. However, arguably I would submit that the sudden “death” of sugar would plunge Guyana into extreme economic turmoil. (I doubt whether any country would actually itself disappear because of one industry’s demise – but oh, the chaos, the dislocations, the unemployment and grief…)
So, whether I’m right or not, let’s consider our sugar’s current crisis.
Sugar in trouble
Not being as assertive – or boastful – as I once could be, I won’t try to convince you of my recent and current connections with those close to sugar. Just please believe me when I declare that I have access to basic, up-to-date facts and figures coming out of our challenged, bitter-sweet industry; I know of certain policy decisions from Guysuco’s directors boardroom; the valiant strategies of its managers and I try, constantly, to comprehend the union’s thinking on behalf of its members who are the sugar sector’s employees.
In spite of all the above, I’ll choose, as is my wont, to present in simple, layman’s style, my take on Guyana’s current travails where the sugar industry is concerned. Here goes.
Frankly Speaking, the Boardroom, to me, has not come to terms with the immediate challenges immediately before and after they sent the British Booker-Tate Management Team packing. It’s also manifestly obvious that the Skeldon Expansion Project – including the huge, new, trouble-prone factory, eludes management control, and production in that the most realistic and comprehensive forward-planning either was not done or was seriously flawed. No Manager or Minister can not now guarantee adequate supplies of sugar cane for a factory in full flow. Even though Guysuco had four to six years to project, anticipate and plan.
It was known that the European Union would reduce and control sugar exports from around the rest of the world; known for a long time, so the objective(s) behind Skeldon were plucky – in that the cost of producing sugar was to plummet, electric power and manufacturing entities were to be powerful significant satellite enterprises. Where are the local personnel to oversee all this? So are the Indians really coming?
Decisions in Guysuco’s boardroom, operationalised through management are bound to impact upon worker morale and attitudes to work and employment. Cane Harvester Basdeo is bound to share his views with his comrades at the fo-day morning order-line. The issues are affecting his earnings, quality of life at home; even in his bedroom!
The thousands of Basdeos know the present CEO’s super-salary; they know too that a former board chairman, Mr. Oditt, most ironically (?) exposed numerous instances of poor management, shoddy husbandry on Estates in both the East and West Coast of Demerara. In their creolesed but profound thinking, the Basdeos, Basmatties and Blackmans in the fields know of the history and contribution of sugar to Guyana’s economic existence, survival and progress and they know how powerful a political constituency they are – or can be. To some political party!
But what is to be done? For the sake of our short – and medium – term economic survival, sugar is surely too big, and vital, to fail. Skeldon has to be made good? Guysuco and Berbician private farmers have to be motivated to plant and reap thousands of acres of the best varieties of sugar cane. This is one national crisis that cries out for a hands-on oversight group comprised of government, private sector, political opposition, trade union, economics–and – accountant– minded representatives. Are we that kind of a country? Even with national survival at stake? You tell me…
Hindus? Christians? Mashramani?
Mashramani 2011 is being officially launched at the Umana Yana, in Georgetown today. (Next year. I’ll ask them to move the launch to some appropriate out-of-town venue. Mash belongs to all, right?)
But what is this thing I’m writing about Hindus/Christians? Well, it is my mischievously constructive manner to coerce, to influence, to invite our Hindu brethren and sisteren, who make such a wonderful success of their annual Diwali parades and melas, to throw their expertise, their finance, their commitment, to the Mashramani Festival.
I know Diwali has religious underpinnings – a part of a people’s cultural heritage and soul, but can’t the devotees lend Mash some sympathy and participation? Then Christmas is another national event that “intrudes” before February’s Mashramani. The Christian Festival, however, permeates all other religions (?) all groups and households in December. There is wide-spread enthusiasm for a festival, through Christian in character, is universal in its appeal. That’s partly why I suspect we’ll have much improved actual participation next Mash and I’ll witness 85,000 persons from the Hindu and Christian camps on the road on Mash Day 2011! Agreed?
Ponder…
*1) Gosh! GT&T really does contribute millions upon millions to the Government Treasury every year. And still remains profitable! What does that tell you?
*2) Now, and always is the time Doctor Steve! GECOM must continuously motivate citizens to register. And the political parties and all other organizations . Tell them why it is important to them? And about the prison sentence.
*2b) Be careful of telling the world who and where you are. The American TV programme warned about the dangers of posting too much on those social networks.
*3) Said the Defence Attorney to his Client: “You’re guilty until your money runs out”.
*4) I care little and he wouldn’t be my choice – but the PPP will nominate Donald Ramotar for President! Want to Bet?
‘Til next week!
(Comments?allanafenty@yahoo.com)
