Dear Editor,
The October 4th edition of the Stabroek News reported that President David Granger told attendees at a meeting held at the Corriverton Primary School on October 3rd, “…that his government had no choice but to close sugar estates…”. This is a sad and most unfortunate statement by His Excellency and, it seems, maybe he was ill-advised by those who surround him. Contrary to his belief and stance, there were other choices, as there generally are in life. All the estates have really good possibilities of overcoming their difficulties and becoming viable and sustainable. Such feats, however, require knowledgeable management, a committed workforce, and a supportive government. It seems, from our point of view, that the latter was especially lacking.
Moreover, apart from the profitability/cost arguments which appear to be the sole focus of the Administration, there are several societal considerations that must be taken on board. These matters were all put to the Administration and the pressing need for a socio-economic survey was advanced. Dismayingly, Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan, who ridiculously said previously that God wanted the estates to be closed, closed his mind, ears and eyes to those suggestions and told the unions and the opposition PPP/C during a consultative meeting on February 03, 2017, that we (unions and opposition) should pursue such a study.
The VP, from all appearances, seemed not to have understood his role as a government leader. Today, all that we had previously warned about have become the reality. Today, the jobless workers are facing pressingly difficult times and cannot make ends meet. Excellent work by a few media houses have brought the sad times of the workers to the nation’s attention. They have greatly touched the Guyanese people’s conscience and have demonstrated the callousness of the closure decisions.
We strongly disagree with the President that there was only one choice. Experience has taught us that there are never unilateral choices, but we see unilateral decisions taken particularly with respect to the sugar industry.
Really, by now, President Granger ought to be better informed of the situation in the sugar industry and of its real potentials.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary
GAWU
