GAWU saddened by death of Comrade Jankie Persaud

Dear Editor,
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has been saddened to learn that former Union President Comrade Jankie Persaud had passed away.
Jankie served as GAWU President for several years up to 1997, when he became Honorary President. He had also held the positions of Vice President and Treasurer in the union.
Jankie hailed from Enterprise, and, at age eighteen (18) was employed at the Enmore Estate as a cow pen boy. He later became a trench cleaner and cane cutter. Jankie emerged as a workers’ leader after he began to express concerns about the problems and grievances that affected workers in his gang.
He was always able to summon the courage to speak to the estate’s managers on issues that he set out to address. This trait never left him, and he remained committed to uplifting the lives of his fellow men and women.
As a sugar worker, he became a member of the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU), the forerunner to GAWU. During that time, he participated in the 1948 struggles which gave rise to the Enmore Martyrs. Jankie was involved, over the years, in several major battles of the sugar workers. This undoubtedly steeled him in struggle, and fortified his beliefs that, through unity and collectivism, our objectives could be attained.
In 2009, at the Union’s 19th Delegates’ Congress, Jankie was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the GAWU and workers’ struggles. He always remained interested in GAWU’s activities and work. He would often boast of the GAWU, of which he remained eternally proud.
At this time, the GAWU extends its deepest sympathies to the relatives and friends of Comrade Jankie Persaud. Indeed, he lived an outstanding life, and his contribution to the GAWU and the workers will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

Sincerely,
Guyana Agricultural
and General Workers
Union