Dear Editor,
At this time, too, we recognise there is a deafening silence regarding Rose Hall Estate, where the people are very hard pressed and are contending with several challenges and difficulties.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) noted that Special Purpose Unit (SPU) spokesperson, Alex Graham, is reported in the February 19, 2018 Guyana Times as saying that if certain conditions are present at Rose Hall, the estate would also operate. Graham, Guyana Times reported, said the availability of canes was one of those conditions. We are aware that Rose Hall has canes available for harvest. A booklet prepared by the SPU, and which was shared with our Union during our January 19, 2018 engagement with the Government, advised that Rose Hall has the possibility of producing 5740 tonnes of sugar in the first crop and a further 8545 tonnes during the second crop.
We would be eager to know of the other conditions, using Graham’s term, that East Demerara and Skeldon have satisfied, and Rose Hall has not.
From the developments that are taking place, it seems to us that there is no clear, coherent plan to deal with the terrible situation brought about by the closure of sugar estates. The GAWU wishes to reiterate that the Government has not truly and fully considered all the ramification of its decisions to close estates and put thousands on the breadline. This, as we see, is clearly illustrated by the confusion that we are now seeing.
While Government has belaboured the support the State provided to the sugar industry, we see, in effect, possibly billions of State subsidies being provided to the potential owners and the industry’s customers. The best approach, it seems, was to keep the estates opened and invest the billions being paid as severance to improve production and productivity, as the GAWU suggested and reiterated time and time again.
This would be the least costly option before the Administration, rather than the foolhardy approach of closing the estates and then, like Rip Van Winkle, wake up to the realisation that the estates should have remained operable.
Yours faithfully,
Seepaul Narine
General Secretary,
GAWU
