Dear Editor,
It brings me great pain to witness the current state of our sugar industry. I think over the years a great many in this country have taken it for granted that the sugar sector will always be there for us. I think we fail to seriously acknowledge how vital it is, since when we talk about 20,000 being directly employed, we are talking about 20,000 families also.
Now this is an even more compelling argument for better remuneration for sugar workers, I think, however, we must be very practical in assessing the situation. We all know the multitude of problems which have contributed to the current state of the sugar industry; I am distressed when political parties seek to have an industry down on its knees trying to get back up, just for the sake of political mileage.
This industry is not anyone’s scapegoat, least of all the AFC’s, which I have noticed is hell bent on exploiting the current morale of sugar workers and in so doing making the job of reviving the industry more difficult. The AFC hides behind the cloak of highlighting the workers’ plight. All Guyana knows what the problems are. They must remember sugar workers are not idiots and will not be taken for a ride, and this is where sound leadership from the unions is critical.
Being responsible and supportive is the main element in ensuring the corporation emerges from this slump. We can argue that the state of the industry is not the workers’ doing, so why should they be made to feel the burden? Be that as it may, the facts are clear that strike action by workers has contributed to declining production, which translates to a loss of revenue. Is this not enough to warrant a rethink? Plus, when sugar workers are on strike, they are not paid. Isn’t dialogue better than depriving workers of their money? Or are Mahatma and King wrong?
Also, the continuous wrangling over who is at fault for the current situation will not solve the problem; strong, committed management must be met with a strong committed labour force, because workers will be the ultimate ones to benefit. This terminology of ‘poor sugar workers’ being used by the opposition and unions should be seen as an insult to sugar workers. It was sugar workers who nurtured Guyana’s first democratically elected President, Dr Cheddi Jagan. It is sugar workers who have given us so many sons and daughters to make us proud as a nation.
Many of our doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, etc, have come from the homes of sugar workers. In fact some of those very well-off politicians that are bemoaning the financial ability of our sugar workers came from such homes.
You ask them, they will proudly tell you how many of their children are attending UG or pursuing one profession or another. Are these the dirt poor sugar workers, who cannot afford a ‘chicken meal’ on Christmas Day? That insinuation by the Peeper at Kaieteur News was most embarrassing to sugar workers! I recall reading in one of the dailies that a majority of sugar workers take home more money at the end of the month, than most of our public servants. If that is true I do not grudge them; they have worked hard for it.
Workers are the key to making sugar productive once again, and it was heartening to recently see GuySuCo executives on an NCN television programme give the commitment that when sugar begins to regain its footing as early as next year, the support received from workers will have to be rewarded justly. This is a significant commitment which seems to have eluded us. As a concerned and responsible Guyanese, I am holding the management of GuySuCo to that promise.
My only hope is for good sense to prevail by all involved.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
