On Friday December 4, 2009 Guyanese woke up to the news blared across the two independent dailies that GuySuCo could not pay their workers their week’s wages. This is a watershed moment in Guyana’s history and should beyond the shadow of a doubt cause the most ardent supporter of the PPP, the so-called workers’ party/party of the people, to sit up and take notice and ask what’s next?
Sugar and agricultural workers and their families have always been the backbone of the PPP’s support, and have held special significance in terms of the emotional support for the PPP. Sugar workers burnt cane fields and downed their tools as a form of industrial action at the behest of GAWU/PPP to signify their importance at the time to Guyana’s economy and to get the attention of Burnham’s PNC government.
Seventeen years since the PPP has been in charge of the nation, all with their unconditional support, they’ve had to resort to a series of strikes, have been told that LBI will soon shut its doors and now de guvament packet bruk and can’t pay dem.
Each PPP supporter from 12.4.09 going forward must honestly ask themselves if the return on their unconditional support was worth it. When businessmen and contractors are the new favoured constituents; when blackouts are still a common occurrence; when persons are now being tortured and killed at the hands of the security forces with no redress; when ministers and government functionaries make up the wealthiest ten per cent of the country and sugar workers are still mired in poverty and live in fear of being the next crime victim, they should ask themselves, was it worth it? How much are all of the President’s trips costing each taxpayer, and couldn’t some of those monies be better spent?
Forty-five years is more than sufficient time to realize that whether it’s the other side or your side and your lot in life has not improved significantly, it is time for a change. That Burnham banned flour and other food items is no longer an excuse to cleave to; everyone suffered because flour not only made roti, it made bread and duff and dumplings too. Competence matters, accountability matters, being a taxpayer matters at more than just elections time. Sugar workers should remember this date because they’re counting on their support at the next election. They should vote their hope and not their fears.
faithfully,
Nigel Jason
