The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), like many Guyanese and even those beyond our country’s shores, have been following very closely the developments in the sugar industry in recent times. As is now well-known some 7,000 workers have lost their jobs following the closure of Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates in the last two (2) years. Despite repeated calls and sincere advice not to proceed in this direction, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo), under its previous leadership, proceeded with what could only be described as a disastrous policy that has severely undermined the social fabric in several sugar communities and has hovering clouds of despair over thousands of ordinary Guyanese.
Against that background, FITUG/GTUC were extremely dismayed to learn that attempts are being made, or possibly a process has been put in motion, to reverse a decision to transfer responsibility for the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) from the Ministry of Finance and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) back to the Ministry of Agriculture. Our organisations must pointedly say that it cannot support such a move recognizing the clear failure of its past leadership. Our nation has seen sugar production declining by over 40 per cent between 2015 and 2017 in spite of the support provided by the State; at the same time, the workers and their representative organisations have been treated in a most distasteful and disdainful manner and have seen several hard won benefits simply taken away; and we cannot forget the massive failure of the resuscitated and short-lived GuySuCo other crops division which despite millions being expended has not gotten off the ground and former cane fields converted for seed paddy at Wales are slowly being overtaken by bushes and vines.
Certainly the sugar industry, which is so important for many reasons, cannot afford to be placed back in the hands of those who provided such ruinous leadership. Our bodies sincerely contend and strongly believe that moving in such a direction will only serve to inflict further harm on the sugar industry which is now nearly four (4) centuries old – the oldest economic endeavour in our country. This is not in the interest of the Guyanese people, especially the tens of thousands who depend on the industry’s operations. Such a reality, we hold, will bring about irreplaceable harm to our country and set back our progress and development.
While we are aware of allegations that NICIL hasn’t had the proudest of records, we, at the same time, note attempts being made to resume operations at the three (3) recently closed estates. FITUG/GTUC while pleased with this development also cannot fail to express our concern over the contractualisation of the 1,000 workers who, reportedly, have been re-employed. Though we understand this is a temporary arrangement, we at the same time, cannot turn a Nelson’s Eye to the expansion of such informal employment relations in our country. Our bodies call on those contractors to ensure that workers NIS payments are honoured and, that as we celebrate Occupational Safety and Health month, the re-employed workers receive Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We also look forward to other rights which are either guaranteed through our local laws and international conventions being upheld.
The FITUG/GTUC also is aware of the recent $30B financing secured to improve the viability of the remaining GuySuCo estates. We welcome this initiative and look forward to learning about the plans to realize the viability objective which is necessary and needed in these times. While our bodies believe that a workable plan must involve the workers and their organizations who are critical in reaching the desired ends and goals. We believe the present direction the new leadership is taking the sugar estates is one whereby many lost jobs would re-emerge. In such circumstances, the stakeholders would unavoidably be involved in the thrust to make the industry sustainable.
The large decline of the industry in 2016 and 2017 has caused us to lose hope and faith in the old management team that did everything to alienate the workers and their Unions. Their programme was one of the denying workers and citizens a loaf of bread whereas the current team is, seemingly, demonstrating its desire to maintain the scope of the industry.
At this time, the FITUG and the GTUC cannot lend a supporting voice to the intrigues playing out in the corridors of power regarding the sugar industry. Moving back, it is generally recognized, is not usually a step in the right direction. Our organisations strongly uphold that it is time to end the hopscotching approach to the sugar industry in the interest of all concerned.
