Despite challenges Guyanese sugar workers determined to beat the odds

Dear Editor,
It was really sad on reading the melancholic sentiments expressed by sugar workers at Skeldon and Enmore on January 29, as they receive their severance, or rather correctly redundancy allowances, and simultaneously not to discount the harrowing experiences they went through in the process of collecting their cheque. They told tales of an anticipated future full of miseries and hopelessness.
Notwithstanding, it was highly commendable to those, who despite the amount that they received, were determined to invest a portion of it in some form or order to assure an endeavour that could provide some amount of sustenance. It takes more than business acumen for someone to invest as little as G$200,000 on cash-crop farming to generate an income to sustain a family. The investment plans articulated by these workers go to show not only how determined they are prepared to survive against all odds, but how oriented they are to make that little investment go a far way.
It is extremely disappointing, or rather depressing and unacceptable, for the sugar company and the Government for that matter to embark on a massive redundancy exercise, never before experienced in this country, and failed to make any tangible, sensible plan on how those severed workers will continue to make a living, before they severed them. It borders on heartlessness to send workers home packing who would dedicate an average of almost 15 years of back-breaking service. The 4800 workers who were severed from Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore would have dedicated, collectively, almost 72,000 years of service to GuySuCo. They were sent home without any plan on what their future will be. Simply, go and fend for yourself!
Whilst almost 7000 ordinary workers, including Wales, were sent packing, there is no word from the sugar company or the Government on the status of the top-heavy, super-salaried executives ensconced at its head office and those estates that have been closed. It is business as usual for them.
On a related matter, the Private Sector Commission must be commended on its initiative to promote job fairs on those affected estates, starting with Wales. It is hoped that this initiative will alleviate the rank unemployment that plagues these communities.
One cannot help to observe the tit-for-tat that goes on between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, which is totally uncalled for. What the affected sugar workers need is a joint collaboration between the two bodies that will bring hope and relief to their plight, not jockeying for positions. From what was communicated in the media, including the Union’s press statement, is that the engagement between the sugar unions and Government on January 19 was a meeting, and not a negotiation, since the matter at stake, payment of severance allowance, was, and still is, a non-negotiable matter. The Union was pellucid in its statement, it did not negotiate.
The Government, reportedly, communicated a decision on the phased payout of the severance, which has either two options – accept or challenge it legally. It has not been legally challenged, and if it was challenged there is every likelihood the payout on January 29 would have been stayed pending the outcome of the legal procedure. It would have been the case of ‘damned if you do, and damned if you don’t”. One could only presume that GAWU was caught in this dilemma. It had the workers’ plight in its hands.
I could only implore that all hands be on board to help in whatever way or form to bring hope, life and relief to the lives of the sugar workers. They have dedicated and sacrificed for centuries through “blood, sweat and tears” to bring hope, life and a fulfilling future to lives of thousands who have lived in this beautiful land of Guyana. They deserve it, now more than ever.

Yours faithfully,
Selwyn Narinedatt
Clifton Settlement
Corentyne, Berbice