The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is concerned about what is taking place in the sugar industry and the impact it is having on the lives of thousands of workers and their dependents.
“Until now, neither the unions nor the public have been informed of a properly studied proposal that the authorities hope to implement on the impending closure of the Wales estate,” GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine said while speaking at the 68th anniversary of the Enmore Martyrs on Thursday at the monument site at Enmore.
He highlighted that workers in the sugar industry are facing new struggles. The GAWU official said that while the present and previous governments have given financial support to the industry, there was no wage increase for sugar workers in 2015. For the first time in over 30 years, sugar workers were the only category of government workers that did benefit from an increase, he said.
Narine also highlighted that the pending closure of the Wales sugar estate threatens the jobs of about one-tenth of the industry’s workforce as well as poses threats to hundreds of cane farmers and others who earn a living due to the operation of the estate. He pointed out that no proposal of alternatives has been made by the authorities.
Further, he also expressed concern at the fate that awaits the scores of workers attached to the LBI estate, which also faces closure.
“At this time, we recall the resolution unanimously approved on this May Day by workers of the GTUC [Guyana Trades Union Congress] and FITUG [Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana] calling on the government not to close Wales and the LBI estate operations. The government seems not to be listening to the voice of the working people,” Narine charged.
He emphasised that the state and performance of the sugar industry is of great concern to GAWU even as he expressed optimism that the challenges can be overcome with adequate resources and good management. “A healthy and viable sugar industry is in the interest of all Guyana from an economic and social perspective. We should not let it go into oblivion. We reiterate that a motivated workforce and a knowledgeable management are key ingredients to go forward and GAWU is optimistic that the industry can be made viable once again,” he declared.
Narine also expressed concerns about the proposed parking meters in Georgetown as well as the proposal to hike the tolls to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge. He said this would affect the ordinary people and drive up the cost of living.
The GAWU official said that in the face of the many challenges being faced, inspiration can be drawn from the Enmore Martyrs and the 1948 struggle. He paid homage to the martyrs; Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Kissoon, Surujballi and Harri.
“They have come to symbolise the struggles of the Guyanese working people to better their lives and in doing so, strike telling blows for freedom from colonial oppression,” he said while recalling that “the workers’ just demands were met by a hail of bullets.”
