The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is mourning the passing of former Union President, Jankie Persaud.
In a release yesterday, the union noted that that Persaud had served as GAWU’s president for several years up to 1997 when he became Honorary President. He also held the posts of Vice-President and Treasurer.
According to the release, Persaud hailed from Enterprise Village on the East Coast of Demerara, and at the age of eighteen was employed at the Enmore Estate as a cow pen boy. He later became a trench cleaner and cane cutter. It was at this juncture that Persaud emerged as a worker leader after he began speaking out about the problems and grievances that affected his fellow workers. “He was always able to summon the courage to speak to the estate’s managers on issues that ought to be addressed. This trait never left him, and he remained committed to uplifting the lives of his fellow men and women.”
He later became a member of the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU), the forerunner to GAWU, during which time he participated in the 1948 struggles which gave rise to the Enmore Martyrs. Jankie was involved over the years in several major battles on behalf of the sugar workers. “This undoubtedly steeled him in his struggles and fortified his belief that through unity and collectivism, objectives could be attained.”
In 2009 at the Union’s 19th Delegates’ Congress, the former union boss was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the GAWU, and workers struggles. “He always remained interested in GAWU’s activities and work. He would often boast of the GAWU which he remained eternally proud of,” the release added.
