Comrade Chairman, it was on June 16th, seventy-six (76) years ago, not long after sunrise at Enmore, that gunshots, at the behest of the sugar barons, shattered the cries for justice and dignity that had engulfed the plantations of East Coast Demerara for nearly two (2) months. When the dust settled, the lives of Lallabaggie, Dookie, Rambarran, Harry, and Pooran were extinguished. This tragedy was yet another incident of repression orchestrated by the plantocracy with the support of the then State. These five young men have since become known as the Enmore Martyrs. Like all of us, they and their comrades-in-arms sought a brighter day, improvements in their work life, and economic justice.
We should consider: Did their righteous demands warrant their annihilation? Was cold-blooded killing truly the fitting reaction? Comrade Chairman, unequivocally, the answer is no. In this era, such a response would be considered extreme and unjustified, prompting universal condemnation. But, in that colonialist era, reasonableness was not a ready consideration. Though forced labour had ended several decades prior to Enmore 1948, the sugar barons still saw the workers as mere commodities whose only function was to realise profits and super-profits on their behalf. There was simply no empathy for the workers and their families’ well-being, and when the workers raised their voices, brute force and carnage were the go-to response.
The plantocracy employed a script repeatedly to respond to the workers’ resistance at Enmore. In every case, the response of the plantation oligarchy and the colonial police was stark, brutal, and uncaring. That script, with a different cast, was to be replayed at Enmore in 1948, and the plantocracy had high hopes of previous success.
Alas, Comrade Chairman Enmore proved to be a turning point. It, indeed, marked a proud departure from the sordid history of worker killings at the instance of the plantocracy and colonial domination. It was a landmark struggle that triggered a new phase in our history and our march toward freedom. The question is often asked, why Enmore 1948? This is a reasonable question, and its answer can only enrich the remarkable and enduring contributions stemming from the struggle of 1948.
Alongside the sustained resistance demonstrated by the sugar workers was the active leadership and guidance of the Cheddi Jagan-led Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which was formed two (2) years prior. History recorded that Dr Jagan, his wife and others of the PAC, along with the leaders of the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) actively supported the striking workers and stood together with them as they sought to advance their gains and secure improvements in their lives.
Dr Jagan, in his well-known West on Trial, wrote about his association with the striking workers. There, he spoke about the moral support and other support he and his comrades lent to the struggle. He shared that he rubbed shoulders with the workers and, in that process, developed close relations with them. Dr Jagan also wrote about the deep impact the killing had on him and the emotion that had overcome him as he witnessed the burial of the Martyrs and the cries of their relatives. We all know of the silent pledge Dr Jagan took, a pledge to dedicate himself to releasing the Guyanese people from the clutches of bondage and oppression; it was a pledge that guided his work and life in the service of the Guyanese people, and it was a pledge that he upheld and committed himself until he left us.
As we pay tribute to the Martyrs, we cannot fail to reflect on the sugar industry, which has now received a new lease of life. Following the change of Government, we have seen focused attention and support directed to reversing the fortunes of the beleaguered industry. We recognise that the efforts of the Government are not without detractors. Several who pushed the industry to the precipice are making what we consider wild and irresponsible statements as they push their warped narratives. We remain at a loss for their vigorous opposition to the success of the industry. It appears they have some deep-seated vengeance against the industry and Guyanese associated with it. It certainly, in our view, speaks to their character as national leaders. Undoubtedly, they deserve our widest condemnation.
Comrades, our times, in many ways, differ from the era in which the Enmore Martyrs lived. Conditions are not the same, and the demands we make are different, yet they continue to revolve around the fight for decent and rising wages, better working conditions and safeguarding livelihoods. Indeed, such are the struggles before the workers in Guyana and the world over. While demanding, on the one hand, these class struggles hold out the promise of further achievements and significant social changes in the future.
Many years have gone by since that fateful period when the workers from Enmore were killed. They dared to challenge the existing socio-economic order for a better day. But improvement is a constant feature of our existence, and in our day, a new generation continues to raise its voice and make fresh demands for all-round improvements.
In our fight of today, we also remember past battles and those like the Enmore Martyrs who had been the victims of colonial plunder and exploitation and fatal violence. GAWU feels that history’s lessons should not be forgotten lest workers lower their vigilance and succumb to disunity, which would be to their detriment. Workers’ struggles have not come to a close. Indeed, their struggles continue but in a different context and in different circumstances than what faced the Enmore Martyrs.
Long live the Enmore Martyrs!
Long live the Working Class!
The struggle continues!
