Information has reached the GAWU, from a usually reliable source, that there are plans afoot to sell or lease, ostensibly to private individuals, the now abandoned sugar cane lands along the East Coast of Demerara. The Sugar Commission of Inquiry Report advised that they were some 8,500 hectares of land being cultivated in 2014. Of course, we want to believe, a move in this direction cannot be taken without involvement from the highest levels of the State.
This information coming to hand appears to be accurate as we saw a recent GuySuCo report advising that plans are being furthered to dismantle the Enmore Packaging Plant for erection at another estate. Certainly, if the Government’s commitment to divest the estate was being upheld, we see no logical reason to remove an important aspect of the estate which only adds to its value and potentiality. It seems, as clear as day, that all intentions to re-operationalise the East Demerara Estate are being abandoned and the hopes of the hard-pressed ex-workers of being re-engaged are now being dashed.
Of course, this latest tidbit of shocking information comes on the heels of a disclosure that at Wales, all the former sugar lands have been leased. Just a few days ago, a newly-established company disclosed that it had leased some 700 acres of land to pursue coconut cultivation eventually employing a workforce of 45 persons. On this matter, we have seen concerns being expressed about this deal especially given the newness of the Company. Previously, our Union did share that, as far as we know, workers have not been given, at least, the opportunity to secure former estate lands to engage possibly in agricultural pursuits.
If the information we have received, is accurate, it is yet another departure from previous commitments by the now caretaker Government. Previously, President David Granger had assured that sale of lands belonging to or previously utilized by the sugar industry would be handled by a purportedly established State Land Sales Committee. Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency Joseph Harmon, in the June 01, 2019 Guyana Times, is quoted to have said the Committee “…will ensure there is transparency in the disposal of these assets because, in our modern history, this will be the largest transfer of assets by the State to the Private Sector”.We do not recall that the members of this so-called Committee were ever disclosed.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in its decision on the now-famed No Confidence motion matter, pointed out that “…the government is expected to behave during this interim period as a caretaker and so restrain the exercise of its legal authority”.Most definitely, a decision of this magnitude ought not to be taken at this time, if any time at all. While we hope what we heard is really not true we, at the same time, cannot be aware of moves brought to our attention in this direction and remain silent.
