The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and members of the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) yesterday took aim at government’s plans for the sugar industry, while urging that it reconsider closing estates or privatisation.
GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine, delivering the feature address to the several hundred workers gathered for the union’s annual Labour Day rally, which was held at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, said there are too many holes in the plans for the industry and government needs to go back to the drawing board.
It is expected that the Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara estates would be either sold off or shuttered during the planned shake up of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which government has said is being consolidated in order to make it profitable.
Delivering the same speech that was given by GAWU President Komal Chand at the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) rally that was held in the National Park yesterday, Narine said the government ought to place the interests of the people on the front burner. He noted that if this not to done, the government will be solely responsible for pushing ordinary hardworking Guyanese into a life of depression. “While pursuit of this course will put thousands of workers on the breadline, there has been no socio-economic analysis to assess the probable impact and to come up with workable alleviation measures. Even the IMF [International Monetary Fund] said recently that the government, in addressing sugar, must be “mindful of the large social impact and providing a safety net to protect those affected by that process.” The fact that this has not been done casts dark shadows on the sincerity of the administration spokespersons claiming that they have the workers and others linked to the industry interests at heart,” he said.
He also lamented the state of the rice industry and noted that following the loss of the lucrative Venezuelan markets and the pressure to improve prices, “new markets are yet to materialise.”
‘Let your voices be heard’
Chairman of Region Six David Armogan, who also spoke, stressed that the sugar industry can become viable again and he warned that if the Rose Hall Estate is closed, an average of 2,500 workers will suffer as would their families. He added that if Skeldon Estate is to be closed, an average of 4,000 workers will suffer.
Armogan also stressed that businesses in Berbice will be affected tremendously. He pointed out that business persons, after hearing of the government’s plan to close several of the region’s estates, have since began to “close down and send workers home” as they are aware of the uncertain future which lies ahead.
Armogan also accused GuySuCo’s interim management of failing the sugar industry. He said they were put to ensure that “production and productivity increases,” but were unsuccessful in meeting this goal.
Armogan questioned why closure was even an option for the government, which had promised to deliver “a good life” to Guyanese. He charged that the people’s interest was always a main priority in the past and that this has changed under the current government.
Meanwhile, PPP/C Member of Parlia-ment Adrian Anamayah said that it is evident that “labour is under attack” in the country and he declared that the “government does not care about the workers.” He then said that the PPP/C has always stood with the workers and will continue to stand with them in all of their struggles. “Tough days are ahead. Now is the time, more than ever, you need to be vigilant, you need to support your union, you need to let your voices be heard, peacefully, you need to protest,” he told the workers gathered. “There is no need to close the sugar industry. We believe that the industry is viable and can continue to employ everyone,” he added.
Fellow PPP/C Member of Parliament Vishwa Mahadeo, in his brief speech, noted that sugar is embedded in the history of country and asked why is it that when it is now in trouble, closing and privatising remain as the only answers. He said contrary to what the government is claiming, an investment should be made into the industry, as it can be saved.
He closed with questioning, why persons are lining up to purchase the Skeldon Estate if it is not profitable.
