Dear Editor,
It is with growing concern that I am penning this letter to your newspaper so as to give my view on the sugar industry. With all that is being said and done, we need to understand that the sugar industry is not viable anymore.
We the citizens need to understand that it is not this government that caused the problems in the industry. But we all know of the price cut from the European Union back in the years. Some of the things that have also caused the industry to be in this crisis is the poor management by the previous government and bad administration from GuySuCo.
Over the past fifteen years or so, workers were denied several packages from the PPP/C government. GAWU, who we all know is in bed with PPP/C did not represent the rights of the workers in a fair and timely manner.
As I move around workers reps are telling workers that this government wants to kill the sugar industry. Well those are the same reps that joined with GAWU to diminish the rights of the workers over the past years.
Indeed, workers deserve better wages\salaries, working conditions and health care. How can an ailing industry that makes no profit upgrade these without money\profit? GAWU and the PPP/C know that the industry is not profitable for long now but are still fooling the workers.
How long will the Government continue to bail out GuySuCo with billions of dollars on a yearly basis? Can Guyana afford to put all those monies into a dying industry? Will the country generate the amount of revenues needed to keep the industry going?
The time Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C took to invest billions of dollars on the so-called Skeldon Modernisation Project they should have thought of the future of the industry and the workers. They should have ensured that the monies they spent there on a white elephant be put into a special fund for the workers.
We cannot blame the sugar workers for the fall of the industry. We have to blame the leaders of GuySuCo over the years for poor management. We cannot continue to have the bad management that is taking place in GuySuCo at the moment.
Workers are complaining of being pressured by some managers all because of the change of government. I have received such reports from workers at Blairmont Estate over the past months.
GuySuCo’s administrators and the Minister of Agriculture must understand, that Estate Managers cannot live a millionaire lifestyle provided by GuySuCo when the sugar workers are crying and the industry is going down.
Government especially the Minister of Agriculture must act now by cutting some of the benefits that the managers are enjoying to date in a failed industry. Why is it that a dying GuySuCo still has to provide window blinds, gas, slashing of yards, painting of houses, maids, transportation for children, etc in this crisis for the managers?
Those managers need to understand that the industry is not viable anymore to provide those facilities. They cannot want to have a huge salary and still have those amenities provided at the cost of the sugar workers. Sugar workers are trying their best to feed their families at this time, but yet managers are enjoying far more.
Government needs to cut some of those benefits given to the managers and their families. GuySuCo will save millions per month by doing this.
GuySuCo and the Minister of Agriculture need to restructure the management of the industry for the day-to-day operations. Managers must take up their responsibilities without fear or favour. Managers must work for their dollars in ensuring that the industry is meeting its target. GAWU must stand by the workers and ensure that they work in making their targets so that the industry can meet its tariff. GAWU cannot encourage workers to strike at this time knowing the industry is slowly dying.
I want to applaud the Government for continuing to pump billions of dollars into this dying industry just because of the workers and their families. By doing this it shows that the government does care about the welfare of the workers and their families.
Yours faithfully,
Abel Seetaram
APNU\AFC Regional Councillor
Region 5
