– workers stories of struggle and survival moving and heart rending
The one-day conference sponsored by GAWU and UNIFOR – Canada’s largest private sector union – came to the conclusion that there was no good nor rational reason for the Government’s decision to minimize the sugar industry in Guyana. The Conference heard from GAWU’s President, Komal Chand that the decisions to shutter estates and the sending home of some 7,000 sugar workers over the last two (2) years is among “…the most callous of decisions ever made by any Government in our country in our over half a century of independence”. The GAWU President pointed out that sugar industry’s “… importance stretches beyond a black-and-white notion of profitability” and that it “…has become a social institution in our society”. The Union’s head pointed to the advertisements regarding the sale of the now-closed estates and noted “…estates which had been described as irretrievable… are now being labelled as attractive investment opportunities”. He said “[t]he clearly heartless, and some would say ruthless, approach to the sugar workers and their families represents one of the saddest periods in the history of our country”. Chand said, inspite of the challenges, the workers did not give up hope and their several varied activities, together with the support of friends and allies, caused the Administration to re-think its hardened position. The GAWU President expressed concern regarding the confusion regarding the future of the industry but pointed out the Union wanted the industry to succeed as still thousands of Guyanese depended on its operations. He pledged that the Union would continue to champion the workers cause as it seeks “…to bring greater attention to the workers plight, and to press for effective support and solidarity for their cause”.
The Conference also heard from President of UNIFOR, Jerry Dias who shared that his presence was deeply personal. He shared with the Conference his Guyanese roots and said he has closely followed the unfolding situation in the sugar industry. Dias who was very critical of the decisions to minimize the sugar industry said he could not understand why the Government took such a decision especially considering the social ramifications. The UNIFOR President said he was at a loss to understand why the Government did not pursue a social impact assessment as, he stressed, this would have provided critical information in its decision-making. He said that he understood the trials and travails the workers and their families now face and related it to similar situations Canadian workers have faced and are still facing. He said his experience globally is that countries are supporting industries they recognize are important to the economy as they have a direct bearing on the social well-being of the country and its people. Dias pointed to the support the US Government is giving to its agricultural industry as it recognized the importance of that industry to the country. He said “[t]hose who take you down this road must be accountable–accountable for the business decisions that will redistribute the revenues from public assets to private interests”. The UNIFOR President shared that generally when such industries are privatized the biggest victims are the workers. He pledged that his Union will continue to work along with GAWU and lend support and solidarity as he announced that his Union has provided support to GAWU to pursue training of workers in these changing times.
Representing the Government was Minister of State, Joseph Harmon who shared with attendees that he himself was a proud beneficary of the sugar industry as he recalled the several facilities the industry provided to the community in which he lived. He said that the Government was concerned about the sugar industry and had always sought to involve the stakeholders in decisions concerning the industry. He pointed out that sugar unions were involved in the Sugar Commission of Inquiry and then, subsequently, participated in high-level discussions convened by the Administration on the future of the sugar industry and complimented the Union’s for their representation on the workers behalf. The Minister also quoted extensively from what President David Granger said at his recent press conference about the sugar industry. Speaking to the outstanding severance entitles to the workers, the Minister pointed out that the Administration will honour the payments but did not share when the payment would be made. The State Minister also said that the Government was seeking to make the industry profitable to ensure its long-term sustainability and viability.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo in his address was very critical of the Government’s handling of the sugar industry and he pointed out that the Administration pursued the wrong course. He lamented that the Administration adamantly refused to pursue a social impact assessment which he opined would have served the Government well. The Opposition Leader said that the Administration’s approach to sugar was not guided by any studied work or consideration of the realities on the ground and he said that the GuySuCo debt was a red herring as the industry’s real short term indebtedness stood at just about $10 billion. He shared that the losses at the Gold Board and tax write off given to one private enterprise was more than sufficient to keep the entire industry going for several years. He also urged the Government to be transparent in its arrangements regarding the sector and urged that the workers and their organisations be meaningfully involved in charting the industry’s future as he called on the Government to honour its outstanding, lawful, severance obligations to the workers.
The Conference also heard from several of the dismissed sugar workers. Lalloo Teckchand, formerly of LBI Estate, shared the difficulties he has to secure employment at his age. He shared that he spent a quarter of a century working in the sugar industry and that he is finding it difficult to meet life expenses at this time. Sohanauth Rabindranauth, who was employed at Rose Hall, said though he obtained a pension he is worried about the future as he recognizes that many persons remained unemployed. He said personally two of his sons were employed by the estate and since Rose Hall closed they have been unable to secure steady employment and he has taken on the responsibility of taking care of his grandchildren. Royston Garnette, of Skeldon Estate, said, at this time, he is worried how he will pay his mortgage at month end. He shared, that now-a-days, he is having difficulty sending his children to school and paying his several bills at this time. He shared with the Conference that some workers have had their families been broken up as yet another consequence of closure. Nakisha Best, also of Skeldon, said at this time she is employed washing clothes for which she is paid $1,000 per day after working sometimes as long as 12 hours. Hafzar Bacchus of Wales said he was employed for 27 years and has unable to secure a job since the estate closed at the end of 2016 and these days he earns by selling bird seeds on the weekends apart from some support he receives from his son who is employed. Zalina Bacchus said she is having trouble paying her bills and she shared with the Conference that she owes some $8,000 to the GWI at this time. Glendon Grant who was employed at Rose Hall for 21 years said since the estate closed he has worked for 42 days since the year begun. He said despite his best efforts he is unable to secure another job. He shared that in the Canje area outside of Rose Hall there is no other place to secure employment and he is worried about what could very well happen in the future since the jobless workers are under strain to send their children to school. The testimonies by the workers grabbed the attendees attention as they were very moving and the stories of struggle and survival demonstrate clearly the wrongness of the decisions to minimize the sugar industry.
The Conference also heard from NICIL-SPU Head, Mr Colvin Heath-London who pointed out the advantages the industry had for success as he shared the possibilities of co-generation and white sugar. He noted that the industry has had a long proud history and could also develop initiatives for tourism. The SPU Head said that through the recent financing secured that his Unit is seeking to accelerate plans by GuySuCo to make the industry viable. He shared that already feasibility studies have confirmed the viability to pursue co-generation at two estates and an examination regarding the production of plantation white sugar is currently ongoing. Mr London also shared that the plans of his Unit had been approved by the previous GuySuCo Board but the plan would have to be considered by a new GuySuCo Board when it is appointed. This is not pleasing news and further adds to the confusion that stalks the sugar industry.
First Vice President of the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) of Jamaica, Clifton Grant shared the Jamaican experience following privatization. He said currently the industry employs some 3,000 workers from over 12,000 in 1993. He said Jamaican industry which has the capacity of producing some 238,000 tonnes sugar among the five (5) factories existing only produced 78,000 tonnes sugar last year. Mr Grant shared in 2009, the Government of Jamaica sold three (3) factories to the Chinese owned – Pan Caribbean Sugar Company – which invested some US$200M but has virtually abandoned the business since it has given up its cane cultivation activities and is only operating one of the three factories they purchased. The UAWU Vice President said that while privatization has been held up to be a panacea the reality is that private ownership has made the people worst off.
Former GuySuCo General Manager, Vishnu Panday in his presentation to the Conference pointed to the critical matters the industry needs to address. He opined that should the industry’s production reach at least 300,000 tonnes sugar the Corporation would be profitable. He urged that there needs to return to best agricultural practices, proper research and development, the need to pursue further mechanization, and improved collaboration with the workers. Mr Panday lamented that the Skeldon and Enmore were closed noting that the two (2) estates were far advanced in their mechanization programmes. He informed the conference that, some years ago, when he was a manager at Enmore that estate’s cost of production was equivalent to production costs in Brazil and Australia. Panday said he mentioned this to demonstrate that there are real possibilities for the industry to succeed but there needs to be concerted effort and committment.
In the course of the discussions and proceedings of the Conference several of the participants made reference to the current teachers’ strike action. The expressions of solidarity with the striking teachers and their Union and sympathy with their demands found unanimous support in the Conference. The Conference subsequently approved a resolution which was shared in a separate release.
The GAWU believes that the Conference was a great success and served to highlight the serious difficulties and the problems the people are facing since the estates were closed. Clearly, there is an urgent need to arrest the serious and varied problems in these areas since closures. The Conference also concluded that there is still a great degree of confusion regarding the sugar industry and there is need to urgently address the matters at hand. The Union believes that the Conference met its objectives primarily to bring attention to the severe hardship and the real life struggles of the sugar workers at this time which the GAWU will continue to highlight in its ongoing efforts to strongly champion the workers issues.
