Dear Editor,
GAWU needs to step back and look carefully at the things it is saying and doing. Observers are no longer easily swayed by the union’s stories since the history of GAWU and Guysuco are now open books of proofs and analyses. Dr Kenrick Hunte (‘Guysuco has been in a “free fall” with the PPP/C government in full control’ SN, December 6) provided some frank analyses of the situation in sugar, supported by the hard data. Mr Donald Jackson attempted to deny the substance of Dr Hunte’s letter in his SN letter, ‘Both the administration and the unions will work assiduously to ensure the Skeldon Project does not become a white elephant’ (December 8), but failed to provide any counter evidence. Mr Seepaul Narine, GAWU General Secretary on December 9 wrote in SN saying ‘Detractors should take note of the successes achieved by GAWU on behalf of the workers,’ but from all indicators GAWU is yet to demonstrate what it claimed.
The sugar union, Guysuco and the government have to take the responsibility for the state of the industry. I recall when the PPP was in opposition they opposed the PNC diversification plan for the sugar industry. Under this plan Guysuco would have been producing tilapia which now sells for US$5.00, dairy, legumes and other crops. Guysuco was used too long as a political football and not as a serious business entity.
Contrary to the now propagated politi-cal talk that the workers’ current attitude is influenced by the struggles of sugar during slavery, this behaviour has been cultivated by the PPP and GAWU over the years in their fight for political control. Mr Donald Ramotar was GAWU’s treasurer during these years and must be fully aware of this. Mr Seepaul Narine’s table shows that total wage increases (349.71 %) exceeded inflation (249.5%) by 100 per cent for his period under review.
Prior to 1992 they were various methods used by the sugar workers to sabotage the industry. Since the PPP came to power those methods have no longer been applied, yet Guysuco cannot meet its targets, no matter how much these are lowered. Bad political decisions and workers’ indiscipline continue to haunt this company. Guysuco is heavily indebted to the taxpayers of this country as it continues to get billions of dollars to keep it afloat or make investments. The taxpayers are carrying the burden for reckless actions and decision-making. Every dollar borrowed by Guysuco from the banks is being guaranteed by the state on the taxpayers’ behalf.
Guysuco’s management said that workers’ attendance is an average of 50 per cent which GAWU has not denied. Spending half the time away from work will cripple the most successful company, much less Guysuco which is limping along. Workers are also refusing to load the cane onto the punts, preferring instead to walk away. This is a poor work ethic that has gone on for decades. GAWU needs to look internally at the performance and attitude of their members, if they want to be seen as a responsible union and get the pay raise they are demanding for the workers they need to have a serious talk with them about work ethics.
GAWU can also help the crippling situation by accepting the board’s offer and trying to help influence the very things they are saying the corporation needs to survive.
Yours faithfully,
Humphrey Charles
