-Some response from GAWU
Because I agree with Eric Phillips – ACDA official, one-time consultant in South Africa (How did that go?), Pan Africanist, ABC Founder, White House scholar – I quote him: “It is that time of pre-elections realities when the true feelings of many in our factured and divided society are seen and heard.”
Before I saw and read his letter, “Fenty should read Ban-Ki-moon’s speech,” I had days earlier, decided to re-alert friends about the interesting characteristics elections-time heralds. Re-reading my very short offering on Monday, that “something tangible should emanate from the year for people of African descent,” I’ve decided not to respond wholly to Mr Phillip’s reaction at this time. Except to state thus: I have read Ban-Ki-moon on the issue. But how dare you bring my beloved television show into this?
By inference, Brother Eric is right however – this silly season tends to corrupt the thought-processes of even usually normal, right-thinking persons who really mean well, but succumb to the underside of their causes. I’m not qualified enough, nor given to fuelling or perpetuating, under the guise of debate, rancour, bitterness, or racism sometimes masquerading as racial pride and activism.
At elections time…
So look out and listen carefully for some of the following, even in these early days of an upcoming election.
Led by the main Opposition Party and the Ruling Incumbent, dirty tricks departments will cause rumours and churn out numerous letters to the print media. If you buy newspapers, look for certain types of letters written by new names, joining the twelve to fifteen “professionals who write almost every day. Do you realize that some aspirants use the newspapers to campaign. Suppose editors reduce their frequency? Or publish only a few?
The Opposition contenders will now – politicize everything! From the UN Year for People of African Descent” to ethnic-based anniversaries to funeral ceremonies.
There will be more frequent smiling government outreaches where promises will be made and money found. The government majority will pass more laws quickly and Ministers and senior officials will press underpaid, overworked public employees to “produce” even more. For obvious reasons.
New television programmes will appear, new “organizations” to help “the people” and new publications will seek to attract your attention. Next time, I’ll advise you what to do about all this. Whether you’ll be voting or not!
What GAWU said…
The leadership of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) – the largest trade union and workers bargaining agent in this English-speaking region – did respond to three (3) often-asked questions I posed to them. The summary responses follow:
What does GAWU think of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) attitude to the sugar industry? The party’s philosophical position on sugar is derived from its Founder Cheddi Jagan. He was committed to agriculture – sugar, rice, other crops – as a pillar of the economy. He always felt that properly managed, sugar could sustain its economic existence here.
GAWU is further inspired by the fact that Cheddi opposed strenuously Desmond Hoyte’s plan to privatise sugar, declaring that any PPP administration would overturn any such agreement. This caused would-be investors to back off. So GAWU supports the state ownership of sugar by successive PPP administrations, GAWU notes Professor Clive Thomas’ calls for privatization at this time but even Thomas concedes that poor management and political interference with the board are causing problems.
Good management and a worker-friendly Guysuco could benefit tremendously from the current high world price for sugar.
What about Donald Ramotar’s response to the current challenges? There was some caution to respond to this one. It was hinted that, besides being a Guysuco Board member, PPP General Secretary Ramotar is one of the Party’s aspirants to be a Presidential candidate and there was a reluctance to be seen or perceived to be supporting or criticizing any nominee at this time.
A GAWU senior did say however, that “no one should speak about sacrifice by sugar workers without dealing with the mis-management by the employer – whether on the Board or not”.
Finally, does Komal Chand being a PPP member of parliament compromise his militancy and commitment to his members? Nonsense, declared Chand himself, .history is replete with British, Caribbean and Guyanese trade unionists/leaders being in Parliament, even becoming Prime Ministers, Presidents and Opposition Leaders. Chand pledged his first commitment, even as a PPP Executive, is to sugar workers defending and protecting their rights, as he does for all other GAWU members.
“I’ll forever be pro-workers” promised the GAWU President. Frankly Speaking, the GAWU responses prompted a dozen more questions in my own mind. Stay tuned.
Just consider …
*1) This week’s “Year of African Descent” Question(s): If David Hinds and the new African Rights Activists wish to promote “African Dignity” and the resumption of “Co-ownership” of this land, how do they intend to go about self-motivated programmes, besides demanding respect and resources from government?
Who stands to gain more from Politicising the African Year Observance?
*2) If Madam Dr Faith Harding could aspire to be our President, I put forward the PPP’s Gail Teixeira! Gail is brighter than many around her, but she’s surrounded by …
Gail T. for president!
*3) After serious traffic accidents, do police trace down just how, where, when drivers obtained their drivers licences? Much might be revealed!
*4) Coming soon: How to assess your nominees and candidates for president and Guyana’s popular entertainment – certain connections.
Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
