The GAWU has recognised that, in recent days, President David Granger as he seeks re-election to office has begun to speak a lot about the sugar industry and his visions for the industry’s future. The President seeming new-found love for the industry around voting time seems suspect but that is not our problem and it is for him to explain. We recall that the President and his colleagues, during the 2015 election campaign, also made grand promises to the sugar workers and the nation as a whole. In the case of sugar, massive pay hikes were promised to the workers; they and their families were assured that their livelihoods would be maintained, and they were told that they were important pieces of the nation’s economic cogwheel. Those undertakings, of course, turned out to be a pie in the sky.
Those commitments, as they were, seem now, in hindsight, to be vote-getting propaganda. We reach such conclusions when we measure the promises against the realities that ultimately prevailed. Before the Coalition’s first anniversary in office, it began its assault on the sugar industry. By the end of 2015, sugar workers’ pay rates were frozen, a feature that prevails onto now in 2020. Of course, we saw too in January, 2016 the announcement that Wales would be closed by the end of that year. It may be recalled too that the Administration spokepersons had disclosed that the Wales announcement was premature and it was intent on making known its intentions much later than when it was made. Possibly this was intended to continue its charade of caring for the sugar belt. But the cat was let out of the bag and the Administration was forced to make its intentions known. In 2016, too, the long-standing Annual Production Incentive (API) was ignored as well.
In 2017, the bad situation became worse when Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates joined the ranks of Wales and shuttered their operations. In just two (2) years, the Coalition had pushed some 7,000 sugar workers out of work, they put the lives of thousands more into a tailspin, and shattered the optimism of a better tomorrow for many Guyanese. In the years that followed, the situation has progressively worsened as sugar production is seemingly in a free fall, the capital investment programme has been stymied and workers, managerial and non-managerial alike, are despondent and demotivated. Today, the sugar industry is a shadow of its former self and though it continues to make meaningful contributions to the wider nation, it is treated as a forgotten stepchild not deserving of any attention or even sympathy.
In defending such actions, the President, according to February 01, Guyana Chronicle, said “…we had to make a hard decision but we thought hard and long and we said we must protect and preserve the sugar industry”. But where was this seeming studied approach, if we go by Mr Granger’s sentiments? His now-apparent running mate, Mr Ramjattan, had bluntly refused even a suggestion to conduct any studied examination of the consequences of closure. The Government was told by the Sugar CoI not to close any estate. Several credible organisations and notable individuals spoke up and out against the Administration’s sugar policy. Of course, too the workers, their families and their communities practically pleaded with the Government to re-look and re-examine its decision. Yet in spite of this loud chorus and several possible alternatives, the Administration was unmoved and, seemingly, unbothered and shut down the estates. In our view, there is hardly any credence that there was a deep reflection as Mr Granger propagates.
So now in the days leading up to the overdue National and Regional elections, Mr Granger is quoted by the February 01, Guyana Chronicle to say at the Coalition’s Leonora rally that “…sugar workers would be able to go onto those lands and those who want to farm, will be able to farm, and those who want housing, will get land for housing.” But this is an almost 180-degree u-turn by the President. Mr Granger, just a few weeks ago, in an interview disclosed that many of the displaced sugar workers were able to secure jobs. PM Nagamootoo also repeated this sentiment recently too saying that displaced workers had ventured into several other pursuits. Our Union, on both occasions, pointed out that those sentiments are far from reality. Moreover, just a few days ago, some displaced sugar workers at a press engagement rubbished such propaganda.
Coincidentally or not, Mr Granger’s announcement came on the same day that NICIL-SPU disclosed that a few former workers of Wales had been given lands to pursue different ventures. The January 31, Guyana Chronicle report that Wales’ site supervisor, Mr Haribhajan Persaud said “…there are far more applications than what is available as there is a mad rush for the lands here”. The fact that so many persons, including former Wales workers, are apparently seeking lands to engage in sustenance activities pours frigid cold water over talk that those displaced had been able to move on. The major question, at this time, however, is whether they are sufficient lands for all the displaced workers bearing in mind, it is understood, that substantial lands are being used for the seed paddy venture and large tracts have been leased to certain enterprises, including one which has links in Ghana.
So now all of a sudden, without any prior indication, the Mr Granger says he wants release lands to displaced sugar workers. This talk was ignited by Mr Nagamootoo two (2) years ago though nothing it seems was done until recently though it is really less than a drop in the ocean. Nevertheless, the President says if he is re-elected he would establish a State Land Resettlement Commission which would address, among other things, making available lands to sugar workers. In August, 2018, Mr Granger said lands taken out of sugar would fall under the jurisdiction of a State Land Sales Commission. An August 31, 2018, DPI report quoted the President as saying that “…we will make sure that the lands that are being taken out of sugar are placed to the benefit of people of Guyana as a whole.” Of course, after that announcement, we do not recollect ever hearing about that Commission ever again. Whether the Land Resettlement Commission will ever work is another story, though when one considers what has transpired we cannot be too hopeful. It does seem the President has a thing for commissions though.Just look at the number of Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry he has established. Those commissions ability to influence positive, if any, change is also a matter up for debate.
Importantly, giving the displaced workers lands is not the end of the story. More than two (2) years ago, when such talk began, our Union presented to the Government, when we engaged the President and some of his Ministers, a paper regarding our thoughts on the matter. Like in previous experiences, the Government expressed appreciation and that was the end of the story. In our paper, we pointed to several critical elements that required consideration if such a policy would be successful. Given the Administration’s track record, we are doubtful that our paper was ever treated with any seriousness.
Given the recent announcements, it appears to us at least, that the planned divestment of the closed estates may be off the table. Not to say we are suffering from a land deficit, but from all appearances, the Government, we believe, would not be willing to develop unutilized State lands for distribution to sugar workers, among others, though such feats are not impossible. It seems to us that idle sugar lands would be the main target for distribution. This presents another worrying dimension as to who would be able to secure lands. Already we have seen several disclosures regarding sharing out of state lands to officials and apparently Party sympathisers. Whether such reported processes would continue is something that should not be discounted. Already, we have heard that plans are underway regarding the distribution of sugar land holdings along the East Coast of Demerara.
The undertaking by the President to give displaced sugar workers land, we believe, has to be considered in the scheme of his and his Government’s previous commitments, pre and post-elections. Of course, the Administration’s subsequent actions have spoken loudly and clearly and there is very little incentive to give credence to the newest round of promises. More so, that these commitments come on the eve of elections where the President is seeking to entice voters to give him another chance brings his announcement into even greater suspicion. In our view, the President has had more than adequate time to meaningfully address the plight of those displaced workers. The fact that he has taken this long to make just an announcement speaks volumes and, for us, is a clear indicator of where he really stands on the matter.
