– GAWU’s President Seepaul Narine address to Enmore Martyrs Day rally
Comrades, the GAWU is once more pleased to take part in this significant activity as our nation, and people unite to reflect and pay tribute to the Enmore Martyrs who were killed in a hail of bullets seventy-six (76) years ago while defending their call for social justice, equity and fairness. The brutal gunning down of Comrades Harry, Pooran, Dookie, Rambarran and Lallabagee Kisson represented a turning point for our people and nation. The death of these five young men fortified new waves of struggle, which heightened the consciousness of our people to confront the exploitative and oppressive colonial system. The Enmore Massacre of 1948 represented a new volume in our history and inspired several exciting chapters and successes that followed. It is against this background that the GAWU contextualises Enmore 1948.
In situating the Enmore struggle, we observe the recurring themes of injustice, oppression, exploitation, and inhumanness. This was the predominant approach of the plantocracy, whose major interest was the extraction of massive profits from the blood and sweat of our forebearers. It was in this atmosphere that the Enmore struggle, which began on April 22, 1948, was a powerful expression of workers’ rights along the East Coast Demerara. The movement emphasised the workers’ determination to improve their living and working conditions and confront those exploiting them.
The late Cde Ashton Chase, a renowned trade unionist and defender of workers, in his famed book A History of Trade Unionism in Guyana – 1900 to 1961, vividly chronicled the Enmore struggle. He highlighted that the struggle emerged among the workers of Plantation Better Hope, who rejected the arbitrary imposition of the cut-and-load system of cane cutting in favour of the long-standing cut-and-drop system. That new system required additional efforts without any more compensation. The conditions deteriorated so rapidly that workers had to enlist their families in order to complete their tasks. News of the strike soon spread along the East Coast, and workers from other plantations joined. As the struggle grew, the workers demanded improved pay. Real incomes fell markedly from World War Two in the preceding years, though the plantocracy enjoyed greater surpluses. The situation was so bad that the workers’ wages were insufficient to purchase a week’s ration, making them perpetually indebted to the shops owned by the plantation owners.
Plantation life was a nightmare. Workers were housed in squalid conditions as the Logies were not maintained. Drinking water was sourced from canals over which latrines hung. Sickness and disease were commonplace and became acute during the rainy season. Worse yet, these conditions persisted, although the workers had a union – the Man Power Citizens Association (MPCA). That Union, soon after its recognition, became an ineffectual company union. During the struggle, a foremost call of the protesting workers was their demand to be represented by a union of their choice – the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU), the forerunner of GAWU led by Dr Cheddi Jagan and others.
Unlike previous struggles, the sugar workers were not alone. Allied and in solidarity was the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which, alongside the GIWU, played an outstanding part in guiding, supporting and assisting the workers. The workers found a friend in Dr Cheddi Jagan, who, in his West on Trial, highlighted the Enmore struggles along with the links and relationships that he and his comrades shared with the workers and their desire to see the righting of the wrongs. Those circumstances led to Enmore becoming the epicentre of the struggle. On the fateful morning of June 16, 1948, the workers gathered in front of the factory and without any warning, the police, who were encamped in the estate for some time, opened fire on the peaceful workers. The intention was evident, and the aim was to break the worker’s resolve through death and mayhem.
Comrades, the narrative at Enmore was not new. It was used repeatedly to quell workers’ genuine reactions to the hardships they confronted. Between 1872 and 1948, fifty-four (54) sugar workers were killed. It was a stereotypical response intended to ensure the then-colonial subjects remained docile as the plantocracy and colonialists extracted maximum value. Indeed, comrades, it may have worked in several previous episodes. But alas, Enmore 1948 was different.
The Enmore incident and the martyrdom, served in many quarters as an awakening call. Dr Jagan documented the emotion that overcame him at the Martyrs gravesite and the silent pledge he made to dedicate his entire life to the cause of the Guyanese people against bondage and exploitation. During his lifetime, Cde Cheddi and his comrades gave impetus to that pledge, invigorating the liberation struggle that led to independence in 1966. Indeed, unlike the past, the brutality of Enmore 1948 did not cower the workers nor dampen their spirit but rather awakened them that their struggles could bring a better tomorrow for other generations to enjoy.
Militancy in the sugar industry grew, and political awareness and activities expanded. Sugar workers’ right to be represented by a union of their choice was won in 1976. Under the aegis of GAWU, sugar workers have taken part in several struggles. They championed the nationalisation of the sugar industry, stood up and fought for the restoration of democratic elections and later challenged estate closure and the minimisation of the industry. These struggles took place alongside other struggles to improve wages and working conditions throughout the industry.
Today, more than three-quarters of a century after the Enmore shooting, we can firmly say that the sacrifice of the Martyrs was not in vain. We have now earned the distinction of independence and republicanism and are no longer subjects of a foreign kingdom. The Enmore struggle was the final time that sugar workers were confronted with bullets and marked the beginning of a new direction for our country.
Comrades, as we consider our journey since Enmore 1948, there is no doubt that we are far removed from those times. Our steady development and advancement have brought great improvement to our well-being and welfare. The logies are now confined to the history books and the dream of home ownership is no longer an aspiration but a real possibility for our people. It is noteworthy to recognise that our housing drive began under the presidency of Dr Cheddi Jagan and was accelerated and hastened under His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The days of utilising contaminated canal water, as our forebearers endured, are also in the rearview mirror as treated water becomes more and more accessible. Even the disease and sickness that plagued Enmore in 1948 are no longer with us. Just a stone’s throw away, a new hospital is being built as healthcare is being expanded throughout our land.
As we look towards the horizon, we do so with great optimism. There is a great deal of exuberance as our people look forward to many more better days under the Governance of the PPP/C led by you, Comrade President. Development is advancing on several fronts in every village, town, and community. We are heartened by these initiatives as we are conscious of the benefits for Guyanese. Today, Guyana is on the rise, and tomorrow will be brighter for all.
We recognise in our society efforts in some quarters to decry development and prevent a better quality of life for our people. We are disappointed by those who seek to weaponise ethnicity to divide our people as they attempt to pursue their partisan interests. This is disturbing and is an affront to the unity that was planted in Enmore seventy-six (76) years ago. We urge all Guyanese to ignore those false narratives and let us live as ‘One Guyana’.
Comrades, as we take stock of the situation and recognise our advancements, we are conscious that our people have come a far way and there is still much more to be achieved. Developments experienced are pleasing to us, and we remain committed, Comrade President, to continue working with you and other stakeholders to address issues around minimum wages, labour conditions, labour legislations and other elements of national life that will protect, advance and secure our Guyanese working men and women.
The Enmore Massacre is inextricably linked to the sugar industry. Today, our country’s oldest economic endeavour continues to make a meaningful contribution to our nation and its people. As the major union in the sugar industry, we remain optimistic about the efforts to revitalise the industry. We are aware that there is much work to be done, given the destruction done during the five years of the Coalition. Just here at Enmore, we are told machinery stored when the estate was closed at the end of 2017 could no longer be found less than three (3) years later when the new GuySuCo management took over. Hundreds of cane punts vanished, and other important equipment and apparatus simply disappeared. Worse yet, we understand there is no trace of what happened to these items that amounted to billions of dollars.
Now, under this PPP/C Government, there are sustained, deliberate efforts to breathe new life into the industry. The GAWU, on behalf of everyone in the Sugar Belt, thank you and your Government, Comrade President. As the efforts are hastened to restore the sugar industry and new skills and expertise are recruited, the GAWU remains firm in our belief that sugar has brighter days ahead.
The struggle of the Enmore Martyrs remains eternalised for what it represented and the gains it brought to our people and country. Enmore 1948 represented a new beginning, a changing of the tide, and the first step to our self-determination. Today, our country owes an eternal debt to the Enmore Five and their comrades who stood valiantly in defence of their self-worth and dignity. From this tragedy, we secured several victories. The enduring lesson of Enmore remains that in our togetherness, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Our greatest tribute to the Martyrs remains eschewing those who seek to divide us. Let us collectively work together work hand-in-hand to develop our great nation and ensure better days for this and future generations of Guyanese.
We of the GAWU are pleased to pay tribute to our outstanding heroes again. Let us be inspired by their heroism to greater success.
Long live the Enmore Martyrs!
Long live the working class!
Long live the GAWU!
Thank you.
