Dear Editor,
June 16th, 2019 marks 71 years since the brutal and cold-blooded murder of five sugar workers at the hands of colonial police. The workers were shot and killed for having dared to stand up for their rights. They are referred to as ‘the Enmore Martyrs.’ Many others were severely injured and a few crippled for life on that fateful day.
It was at the graveside of the slain sugar workers that Dr Jagan made a silent pledge that he would dedicate his entire life to the cause of the working people of Guyana. The killings of the sugar workers was also catalyst to the formation of the People’s Progressive Party, a mere two years later on January 1, 1950.
Both Dr Jagan and the slain sugar workers must be turning in their graves over what has become of the sugar industry today. Enmore is no longer a grinding sugar estate resulting in hundreds of workers now being pushed on the breadline. The same is true for sugar workers at Wales, Skeldon, Albion and Rose Hall, who are now finding it difficult to provide for themselves and their families.
As we observe the 71st anniversary of the deaths of the sugar workers, the future of sugar is bleak with no signs of recovery. The current dispute between the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Special Purpose Unit which was set up to oversee and manage the divestment processes is nothing short of pathetic. At a more fundamental level, it speaks to a governance crisis which is proving to be extremely costly both from a financial and human perspective.
As I mentioned in an earlier letter, the decision to close the sugar estates is, at best, short-sighted and, at worst, a crippling blow to workers and their families who depend on the industry for a living. The economic and human costs outweigh by far whatever short-term gains the APNU+AFC administration may have envisioned.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
