The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is indeed pleased once again to join in paying homage to the Enmore Martyrs. Today, once more, we recall the heroic sacrifice of the Martyrs who were massacred at the instance of the plantocracy seventy (70) years ago. For us of the GAWU, it is noteworthy, that though seven (7) decades have gone by we continue to pay our respects to the Martyrs who have been rightly elevated to the status of National Heroes. The fact, in our view, that they have received such acclaim and that their memory is kept alive on to this day, speaks to the impact of their martyrdom on the ensuing struggles to bring an end to colonial domination and its inherent brutality.
The story of the Enmore Martyrs serves as a stark reminder of the oppressive nature of that plantation system. In those days, living and working conditions were atrocious. History records how workers trekked their families miles into the cane fields in order to assist them to complete their overbearing tasks. At the same time, the cost-of-living was skyrocketing and so were the profits of the plantocracy but workers’ wages remained stagnant. Workers housing left a lot to be desired and their sanitation were downright unfit for human beings. Though a few years prior to the Enmore tragedy, the MPCA was recognized as the workers representative body the situation largely remained unchanged and that union very quickly became subservient to the ruling sugar barons.
Comrade Chairman, on April 22, 1948 the proverbial straw finally broke the camel’s back when workers downed tools to demand the abolishment of the ‘cut and load’ system. This reaping system forced cane cutters to load the sugar punts with the cane they cut. It was introduced in 1945, and from time to time workers had gone on strike to demand that it should be changed. As part of the demands of the 1948 strike, the cane cutters called for the replacement of ‘cut and load’ with a ‘cut and drop’ system by which the cane cutters should cut the cane, but other workers would load the cut cane into the punts for transportation to the factory. The strike, as the days went by, grew to involve some 1,200 workers from the sugar plantations of Enmore, Non Pariel, Lusignan, Mon Repos, La Bonne Intention, Vryheid’s Lust, and Ogle and its demands were broadened as workers demanded higher wages and improved living conditions on the sugar estates as well as the recognition of the GIWU as the bargaining union for the field and factory workers on all the sugar estates in the country.
The strike was supported by the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), and the workers were addressed at numerous public meetings by Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan and leaders of the GIWU. Dr Jagan himself was personally involved in the organization of the strike, and helped to raise funds across the country to it. Janet Jagan was also in the forefront in operating soup kitchens for the striking workers and their families on the sugar estates.
As the strike continued, the recognized union, the MPCA, urged the workers to return to work saying that their demand for higher pay would be taken up with the Sugar Producers Association (SPA). But the workers, who had no confidence in the MPCA, refused to heed this call and stated that in any discussions with the SPA they wanted only the GIWU to represent them. With sugar production seriously affected by the ongoing strike, the sugar estates hired scab labour. On June 14, 1948 the SPA and the MPCA met to discuss the issues, but no satisfactory agreement was reached.
Early on the morning of June 16, 1948 a crowd of about 400 workers gathered outside the factory at Enmore for a protest and picketing exercise. The management of Enmore Estate was expecting this protest action, and the evening before had requested assistance from the Police. Seven policemen, each armed with a rifle and six rounds of ammunition, were earlier sent from Georgetown and on the morning of June 16 they reported to the management of Enmore estate at 4.00 a.m.
By 10.00 a.m. the crowd had grown to between 500 and 600 persons and was led by one of the workers carrying a red flag. It was in such a situation when hundreds of workers courageously and militantly struck for their just demands that the police sided with the plantation owners. The policemen subsequently opened fire and five workers were killed while fourteen others were injured. Lallabagee Kissoon, 30 years old, was shot in the back; 19-year-old Pooran was shot in the leg and pelvis; Rambarran died from bullet wounds in his leg; Dookhie died in hospital later that day; and Harry died the following day from severe spinal injuries.
On June 17, the funeral of the slain men saw a massive crowd of people marching behind their coffins from Enmore to La Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown, a distance of more than 16 miles. On the grave side of the Enmore Martyrs surrounded by thousands of mourners, Dr Jagan made a silent pledge that he would dedicate his entire life to the cause of the struggle of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation.
Our history would show that the Enmore struggle and sacrifice also fertilized a united struggle of the Guyanese people which led to several notable and noteworthy achievements such as our Independence and later the attainment of Republicanism. The nationalization of the sugar industry, ten years after Independence was another significant achievement. The Enmore Martyrs sacrifice was not in vain. It led to a new wave of struggles, it helped to fortify the view that united struggles are important in realizing our aspirations and goals.
Comrade Chairman, while we as a people must take pride in those achievements, we of the GAWU also cannot help but be saddened, at this time, as we reflect on our now-a-day state-of-affairs. Today, we see several freedoms won out of the struggle of our working-people under threat and being disregarded. Comrades, at this 70th Anniversary of the Martyrs is observed, the GAWU must place on record its deep dismay that the FITUG has not been allowed to participate in today’s events. This is most upsetting and for us heightens our anxieties of what is next.
We also cannot fail to recognize that at this time, as we reflect on the Enmore Martyrs and their lasting legacy, our observances are overshadowed by the fact that there is no operable Enmore Estate; this is indeed a disturbing and distinguishing feature of this year’s anniversary. Comrade Chairman, for the sugar workers the many promises that life will be better has been dashed and today, thousands of Guyanese who were depended on the operation of Enmore, Skeldon, Rose Hall and Wales Estate live in difficult economic conditions. They face the real challenges of having adequate meals; to send their children to school; to pay their bills, and to confront the harsh realities of life. What is worst, Comrade Chairman, is that this need not have occurred. There are solutions to the challenges of sugar but they were ignored, and today we see the sad consequences of not going in the right direction.
But while we cannot ignore the plight of our brothers and sisters in the sugar belt, we also cannot turn a blind eye to the troubles facing the working-people generally. Just in recent times, the extraordinarily high prices of fuel have seen a number of protest actions taking place. Those increases will reverberate throughout society and no one will be spared. Alongside that reality, we also cannot ignore the increase in the price of basic food items, the rising cost of medical care and the ever heavier burden of taxes. Several reports in the media have expressed very grave worry about the direction we are heading in and workers are apprehensive whether the economic troubles of the latter 1980’s will visit us once again. That period, as we well know, was particularly painful for the workers and their families.
Comrade Chairman, comrades, the Enmore struggle of 1948 represents a historic landmark in our country’s life. It is a stark reminder of our sordid colonial past. It also tells us the story of the indomitable will of our people and the successes that our struggles have borne us. Today we cannot help but take price in the heroic stance of that epic struggle of 1948. We continue to remember and pay homage to the Enmore Five who were undaunted and stood up defiantly in defence of their just cause and for a better and decent life. Today, we are the inheritors of the legacy they left us. That legacy will serve us well in our ongoing struggles to safeguard our hard-won freedoms and to ensure the well-being of the masses of our working-people.
Long live the Enmore Martyrs!
Long live the Working Class!
The struggle continues!
