Govt has abandoned sugar workers – fmr Agri Minister
Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has stated that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has abandoned the sugar workers, since their resounding pleas for wages negotiations have been brushed aside.
Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Ramsammy indicated that while sugar workers “dangle on a string”, those who vigorously proclaimed themselves champions of sugar workers; people like Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, are deafeningly silent.
“Their silence is acquiescence to the vicious assault on sugar workers, as they enjoy the trappings of exalted positions like Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security, because of the votes of some sugar workers seduced by their holy combustible rubbish. Nagamootoo and APNU/AFC have reprehensively betrayed the workers,” Ramsammy said, noting that in 2015 and 2016, the Government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) imposed an “unconscionable” wage freeze on sugar workers with a zero offer and no discussion.
He stated that they undoubtedly claimed that they consulted with workers when they informed the unions in writing, indicating that talks are unnecessary since GuySuCo is not in a position to grant an increase of wages. However, Ramsammy said this does not constitute fair wage negotiations.
“APNU/AFC, for its part, has resoundingly ignored the plea of sugar workers, the same sugar workers they depended on for votes to get them into government in 2015,” he added.
He stated that under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, from 1992 to 2015, sugar workers negotiated a wage increase every year, in good years and bad years, with an annual average increase of 9.6 per cent for 23 years. “In the last five years with various challenges and an uphill battle to maintain production near target, the sugar workers were still able to negotiate wage increases of between 3.5 per cent and eight per cent. The PPP was clearly motivated to help workers,” he said.
He stated further that it was this same Government prior to the May 2015 elections that went around the sugar belt, promising sugar workers they would grant them a 20 per cent annual wage increase were they in Government.
He added that while the Government has chosen to freeze sugar workers’ wages, simultaneously, GuySuCo and APNU/AFC found money to pay expensive consultants for a Wales Rice Study, aquaculture study, Skeldon rice study.
