Dear Editor,
The Granger-Nagamootoo administration has failed the people of the West Bank of Demerara and Guyanese as a whole by adopting the worst available option ‒ factory closure ‒ for Wales estate, and rejecting the many offers of assistance. A far better option would be a partnership with workers and cane farmers. Another alternative is to accept the offer of the opposition to assist in this situation and/or the offer of the Indian government, negotiated by former President Donald Ramotar. It should be noted that the recommendation of its own appointed Commission of Inquiry was ignored. We insist that workers must have a say in decisions about their future.
The arbitrary, ill-conceived decision on the estate closure must be rejected outright. Agriculture is Guyana’s engine of growth and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future. Manufacturing, service, and the other sectors have yet to achieve the same importance. In the national interest, agriculture must be protected and promoted. Rice and sugar are the most competitive agricultural enterprises in the sector, and prudent management will ensure their expansion and diversification.
We urge all Guyanese to insist that the government rescind the closure decision and create a solution that would take the interest of all the stakeholders into consideration. We challenge government to create a stimulus plan to transform and diversify the industry and restore it to its former importance for the workers and the economy.
Sugar is national patrimony, and the appropriate forum for discussion of major policy matters is the National Assembly. We therefore strongly believe that a decision as important as the closure of the Wales factory should be debated there. We fully support the call for a debate in Parliament on the issue. The silence of the ‘guardians of democracy,’ is revealing.
We commend the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union for its leadership in this struggle to save the livelihood of the workers and we extend solidarity and support to the workers and unions in the industry.
We urge Guyanese everywhere to stand up for Guyana, for the workers at Wales Estate and for democracy. The stakeholders must have a say.
Yours faithfully,
Rueben Khusial
Guyanese Solidarity Movement-NY
