Dear Editor,
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has seen Dr David Hinds’ response to our letter which appeared in sections of the media under the title “Why can’t GAWU acknowledge that this Govt took the brave decision to confront the sugar problem?”; and “Guyana has far to go for ethnic, political reconciliation”; and in Guyana Times entitled “Guyana’s greatest enemies are its zero-sum politics, political culture”. Dr Hinds starts off by accusing our Union of ignoring his critical views regarding the implementation of the Administration’s plans for the sugar industry. On this score, we urge Dr Hinds to carefully re-read our letter as we did note his decrying of the Government’s failure to communicate its approach to sugar. The political scientist then goes on to say that Government established a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which, in his words, was required to “investigate the problem” in the sugar industry. Here, we urge Dr Hinds to look at the Commission’s report, if he hasn’t read it as yet. There he would see, without ambiguity, that the Commission which comprised gentlemen chosen by the Government – with the exception of the GAWU representative – saying that the coalition should not close estates. There he would see the Commissioners advising the Government that there was a possibility of overcoming the difficulties by pursuing sugar diversification. There he would see that the Commission telling the Government not to pursue non-sugar diversification on sugar lands. There he would learn that there is light at the end of the tunnel once the correct approach is adopted. Those and several other important recommendations were ignored by the Government. It seems, from all appearances, that the Administration was not pleased by the results of the Commission’s investigation. Maybe it didn’t have the narrative it sought. Then the Government, even before the Commission’s report had time to gather dust, did the unthinkable and announced in January 2016 that it would close Wales Estate. That closure put at direct risk the employment of 1700 sugar workers and hundreds of cane farmers, and, indirectly, upset the lives of thousands of Guyanese residents along the West Bank of Demerara.
At that time, the Government said it would pursue non-sugar diversification at Wales despite the realities of past failure and the recommendations of the Sugar CoI. To date, those initiatives have failed to come off the launching pad, save and except for a seed paddy experiment which had most disastrous results. One, quite logically, thought the Administration would have had its fingers burnt with the Wales fiasco. But again they defied the odds when on December 31, 2016, the Government announced it would close the East Demerara and Rose Hall Estates and divest Skeldon Estate. This policy, we may add, has not on to this time, benefited from any study to determine the ramifications. At the end of it all, the workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates have been put on the breadline. Even the statutory redundancy payments were bungled by the Administration which despite having months of advanced warning simply didn’t cater to make the payments.
Regarding the recently announced $30 billion financing package, we wish to advise Dr Hinds that those monies are intended to be utilised on the operational Guyana Sugar Corporation [GuySuCo] estates and not the “…upgrading of the closed estates…” as the good doctor posits.
Dr Hinds then says “… the Government’s action on the sugar industry is the closest it has come to a clear policy on anything”. If this is indeed the case, then may the Good Lord help the Guyanese people. The press is filled with reports of the confusion and clear indecision the Administration has had regarding sugar. Just in recent weeks, we saw the Agriculture Minister disowning the industry then suddenly resuming responsibility. The story of the confusion surrounding the appointment with the Board of Directors could probably provide substantial material for a book. And also we have seen the discord playing out in the media between the SPU and the GuySuCo. We are then told that our views are driven by factors outside of compassion for the sugar workers. This is completely baseless and certainly not factual.
We have demonstrated time and again our sincere concern about the well-being and welfare of sugar workers. Certainly, we have used every avenue to advance their cause and plight. We have put to the Government workable solutions to safeguard the sugar industry which the Administration has not responded to thus far. Incidentally, some of these, we understand, will be pursued using the $30 billion financing secured. Clearly, from all appearances, we were on the right track.
We have also not failed to attend any engagement the Government, the GuySuCo, or even the SPU have sought to invite us to. We have gone as far as meeting with President David Granger. We hope to continue in taking principled approaches and positions in our members’ interests and well-being and advocate proposals helpful, as we see it, to the industry.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary GAWU
