The GAWU has taken note of Mr Peter Joseph’s letter appearing in the April 19 Kaieteur News. Mr Joseph, whose previous letter appeared under the moniker “local observers”, dishearteningly continues to make charges against our Union which, in our view, do not correspond to reality.
Mr Joseph contends that our Union is under the control of external organization. It is indeed saddening that the letter writer has chosen to repeat an innuendo that really belongs in a fictional world. The GAWU, as it pointed out before, operates independently and its leadership is elected by its membership, which cuts across the political divide. Certainly, GAWU, time and again, has demonstrated its independence. In most recent times, we have engaged the Government, including President David Granger, with our views and suggestions on its policies towards the sugar industry. Our Union even went as far as inviting Minister Joseph Harmon to speak at the GAWU-sponsored conference on sugar last September. Those facts undermine, glaringly, the author’s postulations.
The letter writer goes on to slantingly contend that our leaders come from a certain direction. Again, we need to reiterate that our leaders are elected by our members and no one else. Furthermore, our leaders, as citizens of Guyana, have a right to associate with organisations of their choice. We are supportive of our leadership and general membership right of choice. Indeed, we uphold this right for all Guyanese.
The author also asserts that the Skeldon factory is responsible for the state of affairs of the sugar industry. Again we hasten to wonder whether Mr Joseph is aware that several parties, some known to a relative of a senior Government functionary, have expressed interest in the very Skeldon factory. Certainly, the letter writer who prides himself as an observer, may know that the electricity plant of the factory is raking in billions of dollars per annum from the sale of power to the GPL. While we accept that the factory has some difficulties, we, at the same time, contend that they are not insurmountable and their remedy will only further demonstrate the factory’s worth.
Contrary to the author’s opinion, the GAWU has, on several occasions, over the years, offered critical views regarding the sugar industry. In fact, our Union was among the first in calling for a fair and full-fledged inquiry into the sugar industry. Our call was published as far back as our November/December, 2014 edition of our union’s newspaper and which formed the basis of an article published in the January 15, 2015 edition of the Stabroek News. Contrary to Mr Peter’s belief, we have never been shy about expressing our views on sugar or on any other matter. Our fair views have, at times, attracted the ire of GuySuCo and the political hierarchy; however, such sentiments will not diminish us from making our points-of-view known without fear or favour.
Mr Peter’s laments the support given by the State to the state-owned sugar industry. But in his lamentations, the letter writer ignores the present and past contributions of the industry in terms of drainage and irrigation, the training of artisans, community services, and so many other features. Moreover, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, through the sugar levy for instance, benefitted from tens of billions of dollars, monies which could have been reinvested in improving production and productivity. We recall, that the levy represented as much as 18 per cent of Government revenues in 1992. It speaks to the substantial contributions the industry made to the country and more so its people. Those contributions – past and present – are made possible through the efforts and sweat of the industry’s workers who are Guyanese citizens.
Certainly bearing in mind, what the industry has provided to us all as Guyanese, State support, as has been provided to other industries and communities as well, is more than incumbent. At the same time too, we cannot ignore that the assistance from the Treasury to the sugar industry amounted to about 3 per cent of the 1.2 trillion dollars the Administration has earmarked to spend through its budgets. We need to bear in mind that the sums approved by the Coalition went to support as much as 10 per cent of the population, a worthwhile investment in our view. Moreover, the Government would have managed to recoup some of its assistance through taxes, whether directly or indirectly.
The GAWU reiterates its commitment to continue to express its views on matters of concern to its members and Guyanese generally. Our Union shall not be daunted by contrived points-of-view. Our expressions will continue to share our pointed views on matters as we seek to defend and advance the interests of our members and the working-people of Guyana. That is a long-held principle of our Union and one which has served us well in the past, in the present and, undoubtedly, will in the future as well.
