Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) General Secretary Seepaul Narine on Wednesday told sugar workers that the union is working diligently with the “severely broke” Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to ensure that delayed payments to them are honoured.
In the feature address at the GAWU Labour Day rally at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, at Berbice, Narine said the current financial woes facing the corporation has delayed holiday with pay and retroactive job evaluation pay-outs.
At the same time, Narine expressed gratitude to government for its financial assistance and support for the corporation, but noted that the union believes that “the key problem” facing the industry is the inadequate supply of canes to the factories.
He added that the industry has the experience and capability to address the situation but he added that it requires “committed personnel” to take charge of the work. “…It must rely, in a big way, on the workers to bring to bear their practical experiences,” he said, while adding that GAWU remains positive that the industry can perform far better than it is doing now.
With focused attention, Narine said, sugar production in all likelihood can climb out of its five year average of 230,000 tonnes to reach 300,000 tonnes and above.
Narine, however, said that GAWU was concerned about “intruders” on issues and problems of sugar workers. “The intruders are up to no good and clearly [they] are seeking political mileage in the
ir efforts to undermine GAWU,” he said, while charging that they seek to destroy the unity and solidarity rather than safeguard workers.
General Manager of Albion Sugar Estate Dave Kumar, who also addressed the workers, noted that the sugar industry would always need human labour and as he said support from workers would be met by support to them from management. “Put your best foot forward so we can take this industry forward… and together we will see the industry rising to greater heights,” he urged.
The estate manager also declared that the Berbice estates are looking forward and are confident that the second crop season will be fruitful. The second season, according to Kumar, is expected to start in July and run into the Christmas season. It was noted that the estates in the first crop fell short of their 71,000 tonnes target by over 20,000.
Other speakers at the rally included Regional Chairman David Armogan and PPP/C MP and CEO of Berbice the Regional Health Authority Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo.
Armogan, who saluted the workers on behalf of the Regional Democratic Council, said that there is no greater power than labour, while Mahadeo applauded GAWU for standing beside the workers, saying it is the best educated union in the country where workers rights are concerned.
Other speakers included representatives from the Albion, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, who extended greetings to their fellow workers as they urged their colleagues to continue their work to build the sugar industry.
The workers marched from Rose Hall Town arch to the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground.
