Sugar workers stand united against closure of Enmore Estate
– accuse President, PM of making anti-people, anti-working class, anti-children decisions
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Tuesday urged sugar workers to stand united, as they continue to hold several protest actions in an effort to reverse Government’s new decision to close more sugar estates and leave hundreds more unemployed.
Sugar workers participating in Tuesday’s protest march traversed several streets of Enmore and Foulis on the East Coast of Demerara
This was the key message to workers of the East Demerara (Enmore) Estate, as they marched through the streets of the community. They were joined by colleagues, housewives, youths, pensioners, shopkeepers, and others, who are staunchly opposed to plans to close the Enmore/LBI Estate at year-end.
The march, which lasted for over an hour, began in the vicinity of the Enmore Sugar Factory and culminated at the Enmore Blossom Scheme Playground. Despite the rains which fell intermittently along the route, the participants were not daunted and continued to press on as the gathering grew.
Joining them also were GAWU leaders, who spoke passionately about the need to keep the sugar industry alive, while cautioning the Government that closing the industry would have serious social and economic implications in many communities across the country. In delivering his message to the workers, GAWU President Komal Chand said his Union planned to continue mobilising sugar workers to take part in frequent protests that would hopefully send a strong message to the Government that they would not accept the closure of more estates.
Several male sugar workers were seen on their bicycles listening keenly to the addresses from various union representatives during the demonstration exercise in Enmore
“We can put up a fight and a struggle. And we can force them to come to the table and talk to the Union sensibly, meaningfully, and let us find a way out. The legacy that is left today will haunt people and those who are doing this will be condemned by history,” Chand stated.
The GAWU Head reminded that Government did not take on board any of the Union’s recommendations that were presented in a 12-page paper, which was shared with the Administration in February this year. The Union claimed that the suggestions offered the industry a good possibility to overcome its challenges and remain sustainable.
“Moses Nagamootoo (Prime Minister) and President David Granger must answer for these decisions they are making. These are anti-people, anti-working class, anti-children decisions they are making,” he told hundreds of workers at Enmore.
Chand also stated how pleased he was to see that sugar workers and their families were turning out in large numbers to protest the Government’s new policy on the industry, and he encouraged them to continue to participate in these events so that Government would be forced to rethink its decision.
Keep the pressure on
Workers were also told to hold the Government accountable, as it had promised a good life for all Guyanese. Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) President Carvil Duncan argued that closing the industry and placing workers on the bread line was not a good example of wanting to create that so-called ‘good life’ that the Government would often speak of.
“We have to ensure that we keep the pressure on. We can’t stop. If you stop, it’s an indication of weakness. What we need to do is encourage more people to join us, because in the end they all will benefit. This is a struggle, not only for sugar workers…If sugar closes, everybody will lose,” he opined.
Duncan accused the Government of lying and said that it did not care about workers, and its main objective was to set super salaries for themselves and their political cronies.
The FITUG President argued that Government should have looked to cut back on unnecessary spending, and use the monies saved to bring the sugar industry to a level of greater efficiency.
Duncan also claimed that Government’s plan to close the industry was also linked to its attempt to weaken GAWU and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party.
“It’s far beyond the closure of the estates. It’s a situation where they want to control this country and have us live in inefficiency. They want us to live not like a man standing on his feet, but dragging on your belly like a snake,” he remarked.
Only recently, Government announced plans to close two sugar estates, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as part of a new policy for the sugar industry.
While the Government has indicated its intention to retain as many workers as possible, the closure of these estates still has the potential to create serious economic hardship for hundreds of workers and their families.
GAWU has called for the matter to be debated and discussed with workers and their representative organisations in the industry. The Union also affirmed its position to have affected workers receive their normal work or pay in lieu of work, in the event that Government moved ahead with its decision.
