Dear Editor,
The call by Bharrat Jagdeo for meetings to address the issue of the proposed closure of the Wales estate that would affect 1600 workers, were one to examine same through the lens of universal principles, is a just call. But one wonders whether Mr Jagdeo believes in the call he is making. It was under his presidency 3000 plus bauxite workers from Linmine and Bermine were put on the breadline consistent with his government’s anti-working class agenda. This act was done in violation of the collective labour agreement (Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act) which saw the transgressing of workers’ rights as enshrined in the Guyana Constitution at Articles 147 and 149C.
Today what Mr Jagdeo correctly demands for workers in sugar he trampled on with impunity for workers in bauxite.
The society, trade unions that represented bauxite workers, and the then opposition PNC were informed about the government’s decision to send the workers home (ie, make them redundant) through the media. The unions thereafter requested to meet with the government but the government never entertained the request. This notwithstanding the fact that after these workers were sent home the unions made and submitted proposals to the government through the Privatisation Unit with regard to ways to save the workers’ pension plan. This pension plan was worth in excess of $2.5 billion, which was the single largest pool of money owned primarily by Africans.
The government did not even exercise the courtesy of acknowledging receipt of the proposal in as much as it was hand delivered. It then proceeded to break up the pension plan even though a proposal was submitted to have a sizable portion of this plan converted into an investment fund. The fund would have made available loans, at reasonable interest rates, to persons living and investing in the bauxite communities which would have ensured their dignity and personal development.
On Bermine, the workers together with their unions collaborated with an African business group on a joint venture arrangement to buy the company when the government put it up to be privatised. This business group has investments in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The Jagdeo government never acknowledged receipt of the proposal but subsequently handed the company over to their friends and colleagues. The government allowed the calcine kiln at Everton to rot instead of allowing a group access to it and maintain production of calcine in the Berbice areas.
The arbitrary decision by the government to shut down Linmine and Bermine impacted negatively not only on 3000 plus workers, but their families, businesses that relied on the income of these workers, the communities of Linden, Kwakwani, Ituni, New Amsterdam, and several villages on the East Bank of Berbice.
The resulting economic dislocation has brought serve hardship to workers and their communities, from which they are still to recover, yet the Jagdeo government did nothing to put in place an economic or development plan to cushion the adverse effects that rained down.
Listening to Mr Jadgeo today he seeks to give the impression that he did not manage the affairs of state in an inhumane manner. On the matter of sugar, he arbitrarily closed down the Diamond and LBI estates and never sought to address the sugar workers’ benefits which caused these workers to publicly protest his administration’s action. Mr Jagdeo ran roughshod over the nation’s affairs, inclusive of its laws and citizens’ well-being for which he demonstrated no regard. The APNU+AFC government must use the Jagdeo’s government performance as the barometer of what a government must not be.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
