GAWU Combat - January - March 2017

Issue#1 Volume#38

Combat

Editorial

Sugar’s contribution remains undiminished

Guyana’s sugar industry has now existed for nearly 380 years and is the country’s oldest economic endeavour. It has played a critical role in our country’s highly-cherished cultural diversity, and it cannot be detached from our proud heritage and of course our history. In contemporary terms, the sugar industry still contributes approximately 5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP); provides direct employment for approximately 16,000 persons; supports more than 300 service providers, and is the country’s third largest contributor of foreign exchange. It also plays critical socio-economic and environmental role in the predominantly low-income coastal communities where cultivation and processing are concentrated. Also, in view of the lack of other enterprises in sugar areas, entire communities are dependent on and revolve around, the functioning of this industry.

The income multiplier plays an important role in sustaining communities and livelihoods.

The foregoing demonstrates the industry’s enormous reach and some of its interest spread extensively in Guyana. It also demonstrates importantly that sugar should not only be seen from a financial perspective but also from its wider social and economic contributions to tens of thousands of Guyanese, to very many communities, and, indeed, to Guyana.

Over the last few years, the industry has been experiencing some challenges. It seemed, in 2015, that the challenges were being left behind when about 231,000 tonnes sugar was produced. The GuySuCo and the newly-elected Government attributed this to be the consequence of an absence of political interference in the industry. Perplexingly, however, last year (2016), the industry produced about 183,000 tonnes sugar, and the Government and the industry’s spokespersons have yet to provide any credible explanations for this substantial decline in production. To us of the GAWU, we believe that the main challenge which confronts the industry concerns an absence of a sufficient quantity of good-quality canes. GuySuCo’s management, we are of the view, is unable to come to grips with a situation that could be easily remedied. The fact that it is not is cause for concern and questioning.

The current Administration, we feel, is not approaching the challenges of the industry in an objective manner. Last year, the Government announced the closure of Wales Estate. There was not even any study done to determine the likely impact of the decision, and to consider alleviation measures which ought to be undertaken in the circumstances.

Continued on page four (4) COMBAT

January/March, 2017

Voice of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

January/March, 2017

Forty-one (41) years of recognition in sugar - futile attempts afoot to wish away GAWU

(GAWU) in 1962. The GAWU reignited the struggle for union recognition, but the sugar planters remained steadfast in refusing to recognize the Union despite the fierce struggles it mounted.

In the struggle for recognition, an important place is occupied by the death of Kowsilla which occured on March 06, 1964 outside the Leonora Factory gate.

Kowsilla and striking sugar workers were protesting against their denial of work, and at the same time were demanding the recogniRepresentatives of GAWU and the Sugar Planters Assocation signing the Recognition Agreement on February 27, 1976 tion of GAWU. The General Manager of the Estate reFebruary 27, 2017 marked forty-one (41) years since the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union portedly instructed a scab who was driving a tractor to (GAWU) was recognized by the sugar planters as the drive onto the factory bridge, an act which led to Kowbargaining agent of the thousands of sugar workers silla’s death. GAWU is forever indebted to Kowsilla, and employed in the fields and factories. The formation of has organized a yearly commemoration activity in her the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) in 1946 memory, which is usually held at her gravesite at Anna commenced the journey for GAWU’s recognition in the Catherina Cemetery. place of the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA).

It required many forceful battles led by GAWU to get the SPA, at last, to decide to have a poll to determine An early highpoint in the struggle took place in 1948 recognition.

The poll was conducted by the Ministry of when workers at Non Pareil, Lusignan and Better Hope struck, opposing the imposition of the cut-and-load Labour on Old Year’s Day 1975. The change of the SPA’s system. The strikers also demanded the recognition of stance was linked to the changing political climate and GIWU, and protested against the miserable working the prevailing situation in the country. The poll vindiand living conditions they endured. That struggle saw cated GAWU’s claim that it had the overwhelming supthe brutal death of five (5) sugar workers and injury to port of the sugar workers. Of the 21,655 votes cast by fourteen (14) others on June 16, 1948, when the colonial workers, the MPCA ignominiously received 376, or 1.71 per cent; 92 votes, or 0.42 per cent, were deemed spoilt; police opened fire on the unarmed workers. and GAWU deservedly obtained 21,487 votes, or 97.87 By 1955, the GIWU ceased to function. Soon there- per cent of the votes. The poll was history making.

Since our recognition, the Union has advanced repreafter, another Union the Guyana Sugar Workers Union (GSWU), was formed and registered in 1961. It was sentation for improving the pay levels of its members, renamed the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union supported actions to bring about the improvement of Continued on page eleven (11) PAGE ONE

GAWU says:-

Canadian Trade Kenneth Joseph was a Unionists visit Guyana true workers champion - get first-hand look at the challenges of Guyana’s working-class

Cde Kenneth Joseph

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is saddened to learn of the passing of a dear trade union colleague and long-standing friend, Cde Kenneth Joseph A.A.. Cde Joseph died on February 23, 2017. At the time of his death, he held the position of General Secretary of both the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). This veteran trade unionist served with distinction and great commitment to the workers whom he represented. At the same time, he was a significant figure in the Trade Union movement.

GAWU’s interaction with Cde Joseph went back many years. Following stints in the Guyana Police Force and the Linden Mining Company (LINMINE), he became an employee of Albion Estate in the mechanical tillage section, and was soon after elected as a shop steward of GAWU, a position he was elected to year after year. His proficiency in his job was recognized by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) and he was promoted to the supervisory level, which ended his membership in GAWU. He then became an active member of NAACIE. Through his association with NAACIE, he quickly rose through the ranks and served in the Union’s Executive Committee. In that sister Union, he rose to the high post of General President. During his last stint in NAACIE as General Secretary, the long-standing bonds between GAWU and NAACIE became stronger.

Our Union has shared many common platforms with him, and by extension COMBAT

January/March, 2017

NAACIE, as our Unions together sought to protect, defend and advance particularly the cause of the workers of the sugar industry, and workers generally.

GAWU recognizes Cde Joseph as a staunch trade unionist who never failed to take account of the plight of the working-people of Guyana. We recall his readiness, whenever workers’ rights were disrespected and trampled upon, to be there in the midst of the struggles in their defence. His last appearance with GAWU was on December 31, 2016, when the Government advised of its consideration to close Enmore and Rose Hall Estates and to sell-out Skeldon Estate. He was very much disturbed and upset over the Government’s suggestions, and pointed out that the workers needed to heighten their struggle to avert the Government’s disastrous intentions.

Cde Joseph correctly and consistently recognized that the unity of the workingclass was an essential requirement in order for workers to overcome some of the challenges they face in our day. And he had always sought to promote measures that would engender unity and collaboration within the Trades Union Movement.

Cde Kenneth Joseph will surely be missed

by GAWU and the Trades Union Movement as a whole. His commitment to the workers was significant. At this time, the GAWU extends its sincerest condolences to Cde Joseph’s wife, children, relatives and friends. GAWU extends also its deepest sympathies to NAACIE, which has lost a fine leader, a stalwart and a true champion of the workers.

GAWU’s President, Cde Komal Chand, with the visiting unionists. At the left is Cde Jerry Dias, President of UNIFOR, and at the right is Cde Mohamas Alsadi, Director - Human Rights and International Department of UNIFOR

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), from February 27 to March 02, 2017, hosted the Unionists Jerry Dias, President, and Mohamad Alsadi, Director, Human Rights and International Department of Canadian Trade Union UNIFOR. The visit by the two (2) unionists, among other things, gave them an opportunity to have a greater understanding of the challenges faced by the Guyanese working-class, especially those workers in the sugar industry who have come under increasing pressures by the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) in recent times.

During their four (4) day visit, GAWU’s guests met with the Union’s Central Executive Committee to learn about the work of the Union and its members. They also met with the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). The unionists visted the operations of one of the private enterprises where GAWU enjoys bargaining rights. Courtesy calls were also paid on the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr Keith Scott.

The Canadian Unionists also visited the Mahaica Primary School, which Jerry Dias’s father had attended. During that visit, the visitors presented a number of gifts to the school and interacted with the pupils and teachers. Among the items donated was a projector, which will greatly assist the school and was very much appreciated by the teachers and pupils.

Our guests belong to UNIFOR, which represents over 300,000 employees, many employed in the private sector, and was officially formed in August, 2013 following the amalgamation of the Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) – two of Canada’s largest and most influential labour unions. GAWU and the CAW have had fraternal links for years. And some years ago, the CAW had provided support for our Union to establish its research department.

The visit was most successful, and served to rekindle our bonds. At this time, discussions are ongoing with respect to the further strengthening of relations between our organisations.

“Capitalist barbarism, crisis and Imperialist wars,

or socialism” PAGE TWO

FITUG rejects current GAWU mindful of various parking meter project

negative realities in our midst

voices strong disapproval of Mayor’s arrogance

- as Guyana celebrates 47 years as a Republic

Protestors at one of the weekly demonstrations against the parking meter project. Guyanese from all walks of life all calling for the project to be scrapped, citing the heavy costs being placed on an already over-taxed population Guyana’s Republican Anniversary is observed through the celebration of Mashramani, which includes a parade, music, games and cooking, and is intended to commemorate the “Birth of the Republic”.The word “Mashramani” is derived from an Amerindian language and in translation means “the celebration after hard work”. It is one of the most colourful of all the country’s festivals.

As we continue to build and consolidate as a nation, historical landmarks and signposts acquire great significance.

Apart from inspiring patriotism, they also serve as reminders of the path we have travelled to arrive at this point in our development.

Guyana’s Republic Anniversary in February, with the high point on Republic Day, 23rd February, is one such institutionalized and national event. That we have survived 50 years as an independent nation and 47 as a republic this month is something to celebrate. In our rich political history, our Republican Status represents an important milestone.

With such sentiments in mind, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins all Guyana in the observance of the country’s forty-seventh year as a Co-operative Republic. In passing, it should be noted that we have remained within the Commonwealth of Nations and, naturally, the United Nations Organisation. Since attaining Republican Status, we have joined or maintained membership in other vital regional and international organisations - important indicators that we are proud to be associated with organisations that uphold humanitarian values even as we celebrate our national achievements.

GAWU, at this time of celebration and COMBAT

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reflection, is mindful of various negative realities in our midst. The economy is currently floundering despite hopeful predictions from some quarters. Social ills like domestic violence, suicide, lack of good parenting, road traffic mayhem and criminal violence of all types are mounting and holding our citizens in a state of anxiety, if not despair. Workers in the sugar industry today feel especially oppressed as they face one kind of pressure or another.

In these trying times and deteriorating conditions, GAWU sees the need for our citizens to be involved in the decisionmaking and the governmental processes.

The Government, one political group or one local democratic organ cannot confront and solve the current numerous quality-of-life challenges facing all of us.

Whether it is GuySuCo, GPL, parking meters or the generation of employment, the Opposition and Civil Society, including trade unions, must be consulted and be involved meaningfully.

The working people are restive and in need of relief. The Government must listen and respond positively.

Challenging are the times, though GAWU wishes the nation an enjoyable celebration of our 47th Republic Anniversary.

Once again, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), which has the largest number of organized workers in its ranks, feels constrained to iterate its rejection of the metered parking project as currently conceived and being implemented in the country’s capital, Georgetown.

Like numerous stakeholders and thousands of Georgetown and out-of-town commuters and motorists, FITUG’s first public statement expressed concern about the project’s negative impact. We were extremely upset that, in the context of the Granger Administration’s boast about transparency and accountability, the contract being foisted with Smart City Solutions, was concluded between the Mayor and a selected cabal of councillors before the whole council and citizens got wind of them. FITUG, in consonance with aggrieved groups, which are inclusive of Civil Society, small business persons and business places, the Private Sector Commission and a range of other non-governmental groups, raised its concerns in the public domain.

Given the widespread disenchantment and justified condemnation of the meter project, we are despondent with the Central Government’s ambivalent approach to this bread and butter/cost of living issue.

Pretending to respect City Hall’s autonomy, the Government first feigned nonintervention. Then, after limited scrutiny of the shady MCC/SCS contract, both the Attorney-General’s Office and the Ministry of Finance were obliged to investigate.

Both Government entities repudiated

many sections of the ‘confidential’ agreement, forcing a few amendments which, as we understand, still favoured the company heavily.

After several popular people-protests involving quite significant numbers of our citizens, the President himself finally thought it prudent to intervene.

FITUG, however, is not persuaded by what we perceive to be a TEMPORARY compromise through the suspension of the project. We see these as palliatives meant to buy time as City Hall and the Mexican Company explore other schemes in pursuit of profits and revenues squeezed from the already hardpressured population, besieged today by heavy taxation, rising consumer costs and oppressive measures emanating from the Governmental bureaucracy. FITUG calls for the complete rescinding of this contractual agreement. If Government has to broker this exercise between the council and the company, so be it.

FITUG pledges its support for the cancellation of the current contract and offers its full support to Councillor and former Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan for his principled stand against the absence of transparency in the negotiations from the outset. Mr Duncan’s stand and protestations in public is laudable, and should be encouraged.

In this regard, we consider that the Mayor’s misguided arrogance against the young Deputy Mayor does no credit to their so-called “coalition policies.”

Meanwhile, FITUG joins the many organizations and groups in saying “Down with this specific Parking Meter Project!”

PAGE THREE

Sugar’s contribution remains undiminished Continued from page one (1)

The estate employed about 1,700 workers and facilitated about 850 cane farmers. Directly and indirectly, thousands of persons are now affected by the Government’s decision.

The Administration indicated that Wales would be diversified into non-sugar ventures i.e. rice, aquaculture, orchard crops, and cattle and dairy farming, and that the Wales workers would be engaged.

But over a year has passed and none of the ventures identified is being pursued.

Moreover, a recent report done by GuySuCo has revealed that the labour requirements for the various ventures identified would be very low. Clearly, there will be a large pool of unemployed, and this will further impact the communities surrounding Wales Estate, and many families will certainly face a bleak and most uncertain future.

At this time, the Government is, among other things, considering actively the closure of two other (2) estates –Rose Hall Estate and East Demerara Estate – in order for them to be transitioned into nonsugar ventures which would see, according to a conservative number provided

by GuySuCo, about 4500 workers being thrown onto the breadline. The authorities are also contemplating the sale of the recently modernized Skeldon Estate. For many, re-employment within the proposed non-sugar ventures appears slim.

The concern with the non-sugar projects envisaged is that, so far, there has been no study about them and their real viability.

It ought to be noted on this score that earnings of the petty farmers would be significantly lower than their earnings as workers in the sugar industry.

We need to note also that, in the past, GuySuCo was engaged in ventures outside of sugar, namely:- rice, fish, legumes, milk, cheese, cassava, etc and which were subsequently abandoned after it was realised that they were not profitable. We believe the results this time around, if the ventures are followed-up, will be no different.

It is our Union’s view that, at this time, GuySuCo needs to begin a process to improve its production and productivity. We see the industry as having good potential to overcome its difficulties. It has tremendous comparative advantages, such as an abundance of arable land, adequate labour, low-cost cane transportation, inexpensive irrigation, sufficient fresh water, adequate factory capacity, know-how and technical expertise, among other factors.

The Government-appointed Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry confirmed that GuySuCo’s management has not been adhering to known and best agricultural practices. GAWU also recognizes that the industry cannot remain only a sugar producer, and that it needs to transform itself into a “sugar cane” industry in which the entire sugar cane plant would be utilized to widen the range of the industry’s products, thus adding a number of profitable revenue streams, such as Co-Generation, Refined White Sugar, Direct Consumption Brown Sugar, and Raw Alcohol.

Experience teaches us that our sugar industry can rebound. The last time the industry found itself in a similar predicament was between the years 1988 and 1991. Between 2002 and 2004, however, it rebounded and produced an average of 320,000 tonnes sugar per annum. With such examples in mind, its sustainability, we believe, will be assured if our proposals are implemented. We also recognize the importance of the key stakeholders being committed to the common purpose of seeing the industry attain, once again, economic viability.

We strongly believe joint efforts can bring back viability of the industry. We believe, too, that regional and international solidarity can play a major role in getting the Government, particularly, to heed our representation and demands for the industry at this time. Let us keep in perspective that the solidarity we ask for is to save the jobs of thousands of workers and to safeguard the livelihoods of thousands who, in one way or another, rely on the operation of our sugar industry.

Kowsilla’s heroic sacrifice recalled

threats to sugar industry stressed

Workers, GAWU officials, trade unionists, members of the WPO and others gather at the gravesite of Kowsilla to pay homage to her sacrifice

The heroic and selfless sacrifice by Kowsilla, also known as Alice, was recalled on March 06, 2017 on the occasion of her 53rd Death Anniversary. Kowsilla, a humble housewife, was an active member of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO).

On March 06, 1964, outside the Leonora Factory gate, she squatted with striking sugar workers who were protesting against their denial of work and at the same time highlighting their call for the recognition of GAWU. The then General Manager of the Estate instructed a scab who was driving a tractor at the time to traverse the bridge where the workers squatted, causing Kowsilla’s death and serious injury to fourteen (14) others. Since that fateful day, Kowsilla’s name and sacrifice have become known across the sugar industry and among workers generally and other Guyanese. The commemoration is a yearly event, and she has been regarded as a heroine of sugar workers.

The activity saw scores of persons participating in a march from the vicinity of the Leonora Government School to the Anna Catherina Cemetery where Kowsilla is interred. At the cemetery, wreaths were laid on her tomb.

Workers of Enmore/LBI Estates picketing outside of the Estate on March 09, 2017 denouncing plans to close the estate at year-end COMBAT

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Tributes were paid by Cdes Seepaul Narine, General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); Carvil Duncan, President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana; Indra Chandarpal,

President of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO); Ganga Persaud, Central Committee member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP); Randy Seecharan, member of the Groenveldt Progressive Youth Organisation Group; and Julius Faerber, Regional Chairman of Region Three.

All the speakers drew attention to the current proposals being considered by the Government for the sugar industry, and opined that should such callous proposals be adopted, they would result in severe repercussions and harsh consequences for the workers and their families and the many sugar communities.

The attendees were reminded that the sugar industry has faced challenges in its history and has successfully surmounted them, and such feats are within reach once again. Those present were encouraged to stand solidly with the workers and their organisations as they seek to defend and protect their rights and livelihoods.

Those in attendance were reminded that many persons stand to be severely affected by such unwanted, ill-considered and haphazard decision-making regarding the sugar industry. Its miniaturization would be a decision that would haunt our people for generations to come, serve to derail our gains in recent years, affect our economy, and roll back our progress as a nation.

PAGE FOUR

Wales struggle takes on a new dimension

- GuySuCo promoting forced labour

LEFT: Workers from Wales picketing outside of the President’s Office; RIGHT: the workers of Wales and their families picketing outside of the National Assembly. Some 300-odd workers of Wales, involved in cutting canes and transporting harvested canes from the fields to the factory, are being denied their severance pay by GuySuCo. The Corporation is insisting that the workers take up work at Uitvlugt Estate, which is some 22 miles away from Wales.

If the closure of Wales Estate was not enough, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc’s (GuySuCo) latest resort to deny some 300 workers their severance pay can be seen as rubbing salt in the deep wounds it has inflicted. The workers are legally entitled to severance pay as is enshrined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA).

Notwithstanding what seems to be a clear-cut matter, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) is forcing the workers attached to the cane cutting and cane transport sections of Wales to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away.

The Corporation, in a letter appearing in the media on February 15, 2017, said that Wales is being transitioned from sugar production to other crops, confirming our position that the workers’ substantive jobs at the Wales location are redundant.

The Corporation’s refusal to honour its lawful obligation has served to incense the workers, who had high expectations of receiving their payments arising from their interactions with officials of the sugar corporation.

GuySuCo, with our Union present, during engagements with the workers that began on December 15, 2016, advised the workers quite correctly that their jobs were to become redundant at that time, and they were entitled to severance pay if they decided not to go to Uitvlugt Estate.

Already, a number of workers who opted not to take up work at Uitvlugt have received their severance pay. Regarding COMBAT

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the cane cutters and cane transport operators, a number of them have already been interviewed to determine their preference – transfer to Uitvlugt or severance pay. Those workers have submitted copies of the National Identification Cards to facilitate the processing of their payments.

The Corporation is arguing that Uitvlugt Estate has a labour deficit and the estate’s weather situation has made it unconducive to mechanization, and thus the Wales workers are required to go to Uitvlugt.

It needs to be noted that GuySuCo, in 2014, received from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) a loan to pursue mechanization at Uitvlugt, Rose Hall and Albion Estates. The Corporation’s submission in the first place, for the loan would obviously, have taken account of the climatic conditions at Uitvlugt, and this would have also been considered by the CDB’s experts who assessed the application.

Moreover, the project was also considered favourably by the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which the Government had set up in 2015. Bearing in mind these factors, we contend that the Corporation’s claim that Uitvlugt Estate is not conducive for mechanization is plainly misleading and simply shows the confusion at the level of the Management.

A relevant question to be asked on the Company’s claim that the Estate is not conducive to mechanization is:- Why did GuySuCo encourage, or perhaps insist,

that the farmers tied to the Estate land had to pursue mechanization at horrendously high costs?

Furthermore, GuySuCo cannot simply decide to move the workers concerned to Uitvlugt. Such moves are contrary to TEPSA, which advises at Section 21(4)(b) that an employer is required to provide workers with their severance payments if the employer is unable to provide a similar job “at the same place of employment or within a radius of ten (10) miles therefrom under no less favourable conditions than those such employee enjoyed immediately prior to the termination”. Given GuySuCo’s admission that the workers’ jobs are redundant and Uitvlugt is beyond the lawful radius, then it follows that the severance pay question has correctly arisen.

The workers, in the meantime, are waging a struggle to have their right to severance pay respected. They have staged a number of picketing exercises outside of the Wales Estate Administrative Office. They have also demonstrated outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, the National Assembly, and the GuySuCo Head Office, calling for their right to be respected.

GuySuCo’s actions hark back to the times of slavery and indentureship, when sugar workers then were compelled to go where their masters desired. Now, after such a long period since the abolishment of forced labour in our country, the sugar corporation is seeming in seeking to turn back the hands of time.

Our Union stands in fully support of the Wales workers, and rejects all attempts by GuySuCo to strong arm them to take up employment at Uitvlugt, or to deny them their right to severance pay.

In further pressing the workers’ right, the Union, through its Attorney-at-Law, has filed proceedings in the courts, seeking to have the workers’ rights respected and them receiving their due payments.

The workers during an engagement with a number of Government Ministers and other state and GuySuCo officials, on March 17, 2017 at the Wales Community Centre, pressed their severance demand. In response, among other things, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan told the workers that GuySuCo is broke and cannot now pay the severance, which amounts to some $375M. He also tried to blame GAWU - saying that is has taken the severance, matter to Court.

The VP is being mischievous, as the Union’s documents for court proceedings was not in place at the time of the meeting. The Court documents were served on (Thursday) March 23, 2017. Moreover, GAWU would agree to withdraw the Court proceedings if the Government or GuySuCo approves the severance pay.

GAWU, as it always has, remains on the side of the workers, and continues to defend them while exposing the various anti-workers tirades and schemes directed against their interest.

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Blaming Socialism, US Media Distorts Venezuela’s Food Crisis

Shoppers at at fully-stocked supermarket in Caracas

By TeleSur English Disgruntled customers, empty store shelves, long supermarket lines. These are the images that mainstream U.S. media typically feature in their coverage of Venezuela’s ongoing food crisis.

U.S. media outlets publish stories blaming Venezuela’s food crisis on the socialist government almost daily. Today isn’t any different.These images are usually accompanied by sarcastic headlines like Forbes’s “Venezuela Discovers the Perfect Weight Loss Diet” and the Cato Institute’s

“Hunger Is in Retreat, But Not in Socialist Venezuela.”

A new study released by researchers from three Venezuelan universities reported that nearly 75 percent of the population lost an average of 19 pounds in 2016 for lack of food. The report, titled “2016 Living Conditions Survey,” added that about 32.5 percent of Venezuelans eat only once or twice a day, compared to 11.3 percent last year.

Moreover, 93.3 percent told the researchers that their income was not enough to

cover their food needs.

The facts are clear — Venezuela does have a food crisis. Mainstream U.S. media, however, blames the socialist government that has radically improved the country’s standard of living, instead of right-wing U.S.-backed opposition forces intentionally sabotaging the economy.

Since the early 2000s, supermarket owners affiliated with Venezuela’s opposition have been purposefully hoarding food products so they can resell them at higher prices and make large profits. Food im-

porting companies owned by the country’s wealthy right-wing elite are also manipulating import figures to raise prices.

In 2013, former Venezuelan Central Bank chief Edmee Betancourt reported that the country lost between US$15 and $20 billion dollars the previous year through such fraudulent import deals.

It doesn’t stop there. Last year, over 750 opposition-controlled offshore companies linked to the Panama Papers scandal were accused of purposely redirecting Venezuelan imports of raw food materials from the Government to the private sector. Many of these companies sell their products to private companies in Colombia, which resell them to Venezuelans living close to Colombia.

Reuters admitted in 2014 that Venezuelan Opposition members living in border states are shipping low-cost foodstuffs provided by the Venezuelan Government into Colombia for profit.“Selling contraband is a serious problem. People here are taking large quantities of products meant for Venezuelans and selling them in Colombia,” Valencia resident Francisco Luzon told Al Jazeera in a 2014 interview.

Overall, Venezuela’s millionaire opposition are profiting handsomely from the country’s food crisis, while blaming it on the socialist government that’s trying to eliminate it.

Yemen war erases decade of health gains, many children starving: UNICEF million children - across the Arab peninsula’s poorest country are suffering from acute malnutrition, it said. They include nearly half a million children under the age of five with severe acute malnutrition.

A Yemeni infant suffering from malnutrition receives treatment at a The most severe form of malnutrimedical center in Bani Hawat, on the outskirts of Sana’a, Yemen tion leaves young

By Stephanie Nebehay children vulnerable to life-threatening Yemen has lost a decade’s worth of gains but preventable diarrhoeal diseases, main public health as a result of war and laria, and respiratory infections.

“What worries us is the severe acute economic crisis, with an estimated 63,000 malnutrition, because it is killing chilchildren dying last year of preventable causes often linked to malnutrition, the dren,” Meritxell Relano, UNICEF repreU.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said. sentative in Yemen, told Reuters in GeAbout 3.3 million people - including 2.2 neva.

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“Because of the crumbling health system, the conflict and economic crisis, we have gone back to 10 years ago. A decade has been lost in health gains,” she said, with 63 out of every 1,000 live births now dying before their fifth birthday, against 53 children in 2014.

Yemen has been divided by nearly two years of civil war that pits the Iran-allied Houthi group against a Sunni Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia. At least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

Releno later told a news briefing that the rate of severe acute malnutrition had “tripled” between 2014 and 2016 to 460,000 children.

“The under-5 mortality rate has increased to the point that we estimate that in 2016 at least 10,000 more children died of preventable diseases,” she said.

Children and pregnant and lactating women are most heavily affected by the malnutrition crisis in the northern province of Saada, in the coastal area of Ho-

deida and in Taiz in the south, she said.

UNICEF mobile teams aim to screen more children and reach 323,000 severely malnourished children this year, up from 237,000 last year, Relano said, adding that partner agencies would target the rest.

The Yemeni conflict has left more than half of the country’s 28 million people “food insecure”, with seven millions of them enduring hunger, the United Nations has said.

Jamie McGoldrick, the top U.N. aid official in the country, told Reuters on Friday that Yemen has roughly three months’ supply of wheat left to draw from, leaving the country exposed to serious disruption as a central bank crisis cuts food imports and starvation deepens.

UNICEF is seeking $236.5 million for Yemen this year, as part of its overall appeal of $3.3 billion to help women and children in 48 countries.

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As Yemen war enters third year, Pentagon moves to escalate slaughter ian crises anywhere on the planet. This war, waged by the obscenely wealthy royal families of the gulf oil sheikdoms against what was already the poorest nation in the Arab world, has killed some 12,000 Yemenis, the overwhelming majority of them civilians, and wounded at least 40,000 more.

Saudi airstrikes have targeted hospitals, schools, factories, food warehouses, fields, The conflict in Yemen has killed an estimated 6,800 people and the country is now faced with major starvation and even livestock. and refugees Coupled with a de facto naval blockade, the

By Bill Van Auken istration for being too “soft” on Iran and aim of this total war against Yemen’s cifor joining the other major powers in nevilian population is to starve the Yemenis The Pentagon has formally asked the gotiating what he characterized as a “diinto submission. A US-backed campaign Trump White House to lift limited re- sastrous” nuclear agreement with Tehran. to seize the port of Hodeida would serve strictions imposed by the Obama Ad- His advisers, including his ousted first to tighten this deadly stranglehold. ministration on US military aid to the national security adviser, Gen. Michael In a statement issued marking the beSaudi Arabian monarchy’s near genocidal Flynn, and Defense Secretary Mattis, ginning of the war’s third year, the United war against the impoverished people of have all voiced bellicose hostility to Iran.

Nations emergency relief agency reportYemen.

The immediate impetus for the call for ed that “nearly 19 million Yemenis—over The Washington Post reported that De- increased US aid to the Saudi-led war is two-thirds of the population—need hufense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis, reportedly a proposed Emirati operation manitarian assistance. Seven million Yea recently-retired US Marine general, had to seize control of the key Red Sea port menis are facing starvation.” earlier this month submitted a memo to of Hodeida. The effect of such an offenUNICEF, the UN’s children’s agency, Trump National Security Adviser H.R. sive would be to cut off the large portion reported that roughly half a million chilMcMaster, an active duty US Army of the country and its population under dren are suffering from acute malnutriLieutenant General, for the approval of Houthi control from any lifeline to the tion in Yemen, while 1,546 have been stepped-up support for military opera- outside world. Fully 70 percent of the killed and 2,450 have been disabled by tions being conducted in Yemen by both country’s imports now come through the the fighting. The agency said the rate of the Saudi regime and its principal Arab port. Even before the war, Yemen was dechild deaths had increased by 70 percent ally, the United Arab Emirates. pendent upon imports for 90 percent of over the past year, while the rate of acute The memo, according to the Post, its food. Aid agencies have warned that malnutrition had increased by 200 perstressed that such US military aid would a military offensive on the port could tip cent since 2014. help to combat “a common threat.” the country into mass starvation.

The deliberate Saudi bombing of hospiThis supposed “threat” is posed by Iran, The proposed US escalation in Yemen tals and clinics has left 15 million people US imperialism’s principal regional rival coincides with the second anniversary of without any access to health care, while for hegemony over the oil-rich Middle the Saudi war on the country, launched the destruction of water and sanitation East. Both the Saudi monarchy and the on March 26, 2015 in the form of an facilities has led to epidemics of cholTrump Administration have repeatedly unending bombing campaign directed era and diarrhoea. It is estimated that as charged, without providing any signifi- largely against civilian targets, along with many as 10,000 children have lost their cant supporting evidence, that Iran has a halting offensive on the ground. lives since 2015 due to the lack of clean armed, trained and directed the Houthi The anniversary was marked in the capiwater and medical services. rebels who seized control of the Yemeni tal of Sanaa and other Yemeni cities by Washington, under both the Obama and capital and much of the country, toppling demonstrations of hundreds of thouthe Trump administrations, has been fulthe US-Saudi puppet regime of President sands denouncing the murderous Saudi ly complicit in the war crimes being carAbdrabbuh Mansur Hadi in 2014. military campaign. The Houthis have ried out by the Saudi regime and its allies A major escalation of the US interven- won support that extends far beyond against the Yemeni people. Washington tion in Yemen will be directed principally their base in the country’s Zaidi-Shia mipoured a staggering $115 billion worth at provoking a military confrontation nority because of popular hatred for the of arms into the Saudi kingdom under with Tehran, with the aim of weakening Saudi monarchy and its crimes. the Obama Administration, resupplying Iranian influence throughout the region. As the war enters its third year, Yemen is bombs and missiles dropped on Yemeni Trump himself campaigned in the 2016 teetering on the brink of mass starvation, homes, hospitals and schools. It set up a election denouncing the Obama Admin- confronting one of the worst humanitarjoint US-Saudi logistical and intelligence COMBAT

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center to guide the war and provided aerial refuelling by US planes to assure that the bombing could continue round the clock.

While a part of this decisive military aid was curtailed for public relations purposes - following the horrific October 2016 Saudi bombing of a funeral ceremony in Sanaa that killed over 150 people - the US Navy entered directly into the conflict that same month, firing Tomahawk missiles at Houthi targets based on unsubstantiated charges that missiles had been fired at US ships.

Nonetheless, the request by Mattis would mark a qualitative escalation of the US intervention. While the Post reported that an Emirati request for US Special Operations troops to participate directly in the siege of the port of Hodeida was not part of Mattis’s proposal, it went on to warn that the Gulf sheikdom’s military “may not be capable of such a large operation, including holding and stabilizing any reclaimed area, without sucking in US forces.” Indeed, the Emirati army is in large measure a mercenary force, having recruited former members of the Colombian, Salvadoran and Chilean military to do the ruling royal family’s dirty work.

The Post goes on to report: “A plan developed by the U.S. Central Command to assist the operation includes other elements that are not part of Mattis’s request, officials said. While Marine Corps ships have been off the coast of Yemen for about a year, it was not clear what support role they might play.”

As numerous reports have indicated, the Trump White House has essentially given free rein to Mattis and the US military commanders to conduct armed operations as they see fit. The result has been the more-than-doubling of the number of US troops on the ground in Syria along with an escalation of the US intervention in Iraq, as well as a request for another 5,000 troops to be deployed in Afghanistan.

In Yemen, they are preparing to drag the American people into another criminal war against one of the world’s most vulnerable populations, threatening to hasten the deaths of millions of starving people. The strategic aims underlying this vast war crime are the imposition of US imperialist hegemony over the Middle East through a military confrontation with Iran, and the preparation for a global conflict with Washington’s principal rivals, Russia and China.

PAGE SEVEN

GAWU’s International Women’s Day Message 2017

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) salutes the women of the world on this International Women’s Day. It is indisputable that women have played an important role in the advancement of civilization and, increasingly today, they are engaged in all spheres of human endeavour in many countries of the world.

We recall that International Women’s Day emerged out of the struggles of women workers in the United States, who organized themselves to strike for better working conditions, better pay, voting rights, and against women’s oppression and gender inequality. These struggles made us better understand the inseparable links between economic rights and political rights. Their struggles also show that the concerns of working people the world over are shared between women and men.

The day dedicated to women gained prominence when socialist women workers identified it as a day of action to rally against the First World War. On the same day in 1917, a strike of working women of Russia took place in protest at the killing of 2 million soldiers in the war, and which provided a further impetus for the history-making Russian Revolution this occurred in that year, and which saw the birth of a socialist country for the first time in the annals of civilization.

In as much as women have made worthy contributions to mankind’s development, and generally made notable strides in their own lives, they must still contend with multi-faceted problems – poverty, economic inequality, discrimination in work life, oppression, and various manifestations of violence. Today, the heavy burden of austerity affects women – job opportunities are scarce; services they rely on are discontinued or are cut; working-women face exploitation; millions live with oppression literally on a daily basis, and yet millions make up the most recent phenomenon of refugees-driven from their homes and countries mainly COMBAT

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due to destructive wars of aggression and severe bombardment of their countries.

Apart from work-related problems, the question of domestic violence has risen to the fore and has been condemned worldwide. GAWU continues to condemn such abuses of women as we strongly also condemn the violence meted out to them and their families in conditions of poverty, exploitation and war.

This year the United Nations (UN) theme is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”. We feel this is an achievable objective. And it is timely to call on the Governments primary and various organisations to work towards the realization of this UN theme.

Gender equality is possible in our day, and will certainly be yet another significant step in recognizing the indispensable role of women in the all-round development of human-kind.

‘The women question’ has acquired greater prominence in recent times, and justifiably so. It is now up to us, as individuals or through organisations, to remove the hurdles and impediments that put a brake on women’s further contribution to society, development, and greater achievements.

We are convinced that the women of the world, and working-women especially, remain a formidable force in mankind’s struggles to address unequal relationships and to bring about a just, democratic and better world. With this in mind, we take this opportunity to express solidarity with our womenfolk worldwide, and especially to the major mobilization of women in the USA and other countries on this day.

On the occasion of this year’s celebration of International Women’s Day, the GAWU sends greetings to the women of Guyana, to its women members, and also to the women the world over, especially those who are in the frontlines to further the cause of women and those causes for overall social progress and peace.

Guyana’s future progress thwarted...

Continued from twelve (12) Our document even went as far as outlining possible means of financing for such a programme. It seems, however, that our proposals were disregarded, possibly not even examined, and the consultative exercise was a mere façade meant to give credibility to the Government’s disturbing plan for the industry.

At this time, when it is widely felt that unemployment is on the rise and the economy is contracting, the miniaturization of the sugar industry is certainly not a good policy decision. The effects on the nation would be profound, and the consequences for too many Guyanese would be disastrous. Furthermore, we contend that it would engender a rise of too many social ills for our people, and result in a significant contraction of our foreign exchange.

It is saddening to note that these decisions are being taken in the absence of any objective examination of the likely impacts and the consideration of alleviation measures. Moreover, it seems that our decision makers have only taken into account financial perspectives, and have failed to note the industry’s wider socioeconomic role. We urge, even at this seemingly late juncture, that the blinkers be removed and the industry’s broader role be considered, particularly the protection of livelihoods. It is the well-being of our people which should take precedence. The decision on sugar, if indeed correctly reported by Stabroek News, will severely setback our country and our people, and will undoubtedly thwart Guyana’s progress in the years ahead.

GAWU continues to oppose divestment and closure of estates in the sugar industry. We urged the Government not to go along this course.

Caribbean Trade Unionists in solidarity with sugar workers - call on Government to engage in meaningful discussions with Unions to safeguard jobs We, the delegates attending this 5th Caribbean Regional Conference of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF) - being held in Guyana on January 18, 2017 - express our full and unstinted solidarity with the Guyanese sugar workers and their representative organisations during this challenging period.

Wales Estate, which has placed livelihoods of many Guyanese at grave risk, and urge that the closure decision be withdrawn, even at this late stage. We must express, as well, our strongest condemnation over plans and proposals that will, in effect, cause further estate closures and sell-out and, if pursued, will see many thousands of Guyanese facing a most uncertain and bleak future.

We roundly condemn the rollback of workers’ gains won through long and arduous struggles; the disregard of national laws and agreements; the disrespect shown to long-standing and time-honoured norms, conventions and principles, among the other injustices that have been meted out by the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) in recent times. We call on the GuySuCo, and the Government of Guyana, as the owner of the industry, to ensure that the sugar workers’ rights, conditions and benefits are respected and upheld at all times.

The sugar industry, we recognize, represents an important pillar of the Guyanese economy and plays a manifold role in the society. Moreover, the industry, we are aware, is capable of surmounting its present challenges and can play an even more significant role in Guyana.

We denounce, too, the closure of the

At this time, we reiterate our fullest solidarity with the thousands of sugar workers and their Unions.We call on the Government of Guyana and the GuySuCo to engage in meaningful discussions with the Unions with a view to safeguard the sugar industry and to protect jobs.

PAGE EIGHT

GAWU concerned over CJRC attempted eviction

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has followed closely the unfolding situation regarding the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) and the acts in this regard by the Government. For us, the Centre preserves the work of a great Guyanese whose contributions to our country and its people are recognized locally and internationally while also offering access to researchers, students and the general population. But it seems the Government, in which sit individuals who claim to be influenced by Cheddi Jagan, is embarking on a course

to deny the exposition of Jagan’s work, service and contribution to us. This is a situation that no right-thinking Guyanese can agree with.

We note proudly that Cde Cheddi Jagan held the post of Honorary President of GAWU for a number of years. He was also the Treasurer of the Man Power Citizens Association (MPCA), and for a while held the post of President of the Sawmill and Forest Workers’ Union (SFWU). Cde Cheddi Jagan also actively supported the struggles and represented the interests

of workers and farmers in our country. Our Union and membership benefited significantly from Cde Cheddi’s sound and formidable leadership and during his sojourn when he led the Union to many accomplishments. He stood up to the plantocracy, and that brought on the wrath of the owners and rulers and their support agencies, who even prevented him from visiting some estates. Together with others, he helped to expose company unionism, and his representation accelerated the demise of the atrocious logie-schemes in the sugar estates.

Cde Cheddi was a steadfast champion for the sugar industry’s nationalization, which took place in 1976. This was an important step in asserting our economic independence – a continuing objective at this time. He was also an ardent fighter for GAWU’s recognition, which also was realised in 1976 following a hard and arduous struggle that lasted nearly three (3) decades.

Undoubtedly, among Dr Jagan’s voluminous documents housed by the CJRC are those which concern, among others, the struggles of the workers. They represent a cherished part of our people’s history, and they serve as an important reminder

of, and a link, to our rich past. The Red House site has had a long association with Dr Jagan, who lived there between 1961 and 1964 and has housed the CJRC for some seventeen (17) years now. This fact provides a compelling reason why the Centre should continue to operate from the Red House, which we strongly believe is most suitable for this purpose.

It is apposite to note that this move to evict the CJRC from ‘Red House’ has taken place in the year when our nation celebrates its Golden Jubilee. Cheddi Jagan’s outstanding role in our country’s freedom from colonialism cannot be denied. And if the ‘Red House’ fiasco is an attempt to diminish Dr Jagan’s contributions to the nation, then that is but an act of futility.

GAWU is of the firm view that the works of our outstanding leaders need to be safeguarded and properly kept, to remind all Guyanese of the struggles we waged, the challenges we faced and the successes we recorded in our ongoing efforts to build a united nation. The GAWU urges the authorities to reverse the course being pursued. We call on the Government to correct any shortcomings which may exist, to ensure that the CJRC remains at Red House and to give due respect and deserving recognition to the legacy of this great Guyanese patriot and freedom fighter, who inspired the working Guyanese masses in his lifetime and whose vision has not lost its relevance.

Bringing clarity once again to sugar workers earnings of the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report.

Our Union, soon after the release of the CoI report in December, 2015, had pointed out that the figure quoted was far from reality. This was reported in the January 05, 2016 Stabroek News (Parvatan, GuySuCo silent over disputed sugar workers’ pay figures). Notwithstanding the clarity we brought to the matter then, the mischievous and misleading information has once more re-emerged.

A worker harvesting cane. It is said by Government that a cane cutter In order to again bring clarity to the matreceives about $200,000 per month. From pay slips received by GAWU, ter, our Union is in receipt of the final pay an average cane cutter gets about $85,000 per month

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has observed, in various sections of the media, references to the earnings of sugar workers being carried. And in those references we saw the outlandish claim that sugar workers earn about $200,000 on average per month. The figures which are bandied about emanated, we think, from the Human Resources section COMBAT

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slips for year 2016 of the following workers, whose earnings show as follows:-

Job Cane cutter

Annual Average earnings monthly earnings $1,022,648.05 $85,221

Planter First Aider Operator

$1,004,071.25 $1,079,389.00 $1,535,133.58

$83,673 $89,949 $127,928

The sums indicated are reflective of the workers’ gross earnings for the calendar year 2016, and notably include incentive payments.

Clearly, the pay slip numbers speak for themselves, and we hope that this brings an end to misinformation about sugar workers’ earnings. Sugar workers perform one of the most difficult tasks in the Guyanese labour market, yet their earnings are inflated for most dubious, maybe obvious, reasons.

The workers earnings, as is evident, are poles apart from their super-salaried boss, who enjoys a cushy lifestyle while they and their families must contend with no pay rises, no Annual Production Incentive (API), and for a great lot, soon no jobs.

PAGE NINE

Enmore/LBI planters commanded by GuySuCo to cut canes - closure being advanced

The cane planters staged a picketing exercise outside of the Estate on March 28, 2017

About forty (40) cane planters from Enmore Estate visited the Head Office of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and related to Union officials that the Management of the Estate is demanding that they undertake cane-cutting tasks, which they adamantly are not accepting since they are substantively cane planters, a major difference in the sugar cane industry.

On March 24, 2017, a GAWU delegation met with members of the Guyana Sugar

Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) Industrial Relations Department and the Estate Management. That meeting concluded with GuySuCo’s assurance that the planters would be offered alternative work, like engagement in the factory, rat baiting, infield weeding, and canal cleaning.

The workers, on their arrival to work on March 27, 2017, were however advised by the Management of the Estate that only cane cutting tasks would be provided to them.

The irate workers, who are employed as planters, felt that a meeting with Minister Keith Scott would be useful to have their grievance aired.

The Minister, at short notice, agreed to meet the Union’s delegation. At the meeting, six of the planters and the Union’s General Secretary, Cde Seepaul Narine, related their issue to the Minister and the Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer (CLOSH), Cde Charles Ogle. The Minister, at the conclusion of the meeting, suggested that an audience be sought with Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, as he is responsible for agriculture.

The compulsion for the Enmore/LBI planters to cut canes is strikingly similar to what GuySuCo is doing with the workers of Wales in compelling them to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate. More and more, it seems, we are seeing a return of forced labour in the sugar industry. That atrocious system, perfected under colonialism, we recall saw many struggles to dislodge it, and gave us several martyrs,

who serve as a stark reminder of that inhumane system. Such machinations of our modern-day sugar barons is reprehensible and need to be widely condemned and resisted.

The cessation of cane planting, which GuySuCo says is temporary, points, in our view, to the Estate’s possible closure.

Though no official announcement has been made, it is becoming clearer that the Government’s proposals to close Enmore and Rose Hall Estates and to sellout Skeldon Estate is becoming more and more a reality. The workers are against the estates’ closure, as they are very much concerned about their employment and their families well-being. They have pointed out that job opportunities are scarce, if not non-existent, and closure would fill their lives with uncertainty and misery.

At this time, while Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is saying that sugar will never die, we are seeing more and more efforts by the Administration, of which he is a high-ranking official, taking measures which are not in keeping with what the PM said would not happen. While some persons may fall for such utterances, another reality is staring sugar workers in their faces; and it is a sad reality.

PM ‘seemingly’ misinformed The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken note, from media reports, of the remarks delivered by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the activity to commemorate the Rose Hall Martyrs, on March 15, 2017.

Among other things, the Prime Minister is reported to have said that he wished to have our Union engaged in discussions with the Government towards finding solutions to safeguard the sugar industry.

It seems, in our view, that the Prime Minister was not aware of the several ‘engagements’ that took place on December 31, 2016, February 03 and February 17, 2017 between the Government, led by Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, and our Union, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Opposition – COMBAT

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People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

During those meetings we provided a submission to the Government containing a number of workable proposals to safeguard the sugar industry without the sad recourse to closure and sell-out, as is currently being advocated seemingly by the Administration.

Separately, in recent times, we responded positively to calls for submissions from the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and the Parliamentary Economic Services Committee. It seems that the Prime Minister is out at sea and clearly not au fait with what is taking place. That notwithstanding, we are prepared to engage the Prime Minister and his colleagues, to share our ideas and proposals to put the sugar industry on a viable and sustainable path.

The Prime Minister also said that the Government’s intention is to make the industry profitable, a view we also share.

But we cannot countenance any proposal which will see estates closed and sold out, and which will result in thousands being pushed on to the breadline and many communities being adversely affected.

It defies logic that a Government is promoting profitability while at the same time pushing too many of our people into depravity and suffering.

We again urge the Prime Minister to look at the position we submitted with a view to avoid the harsh repercussions of the Administration and GuySuCo’s proposals. The Prime Minister, Mr Nagamootoo, may also want to acquaint himself with the misfortunes that have beset the workers and linked interest groups with the recent closure of Wales Estate in

total disregard of the sound advice from the Union.

At this time, when it is generally agreed that our nation’s economic fortunes are on the decline, the Government - though it says it hasn’t made up its mind on sugar - is actively promoting policies that will make a bad situation worse. Already, we have learnt from workers that cane planting has ceased at Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates, indicating that those estates are being prepared for closure. Our Union has already written GuySuCo to seek a meeting to discuss this move, and looks forward to an early engagement.

GAWU holds strongly that the industry can be turned around and become profitable, as we outlined in our position of February 17, 2017.

PAGE TEN

GAWU salutes Rose Hall martyrs

The Rose Hall Martyrs Monument

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) pays homage, yet again, to the fifteen (15) sugar workers who met their deaths one hundred and four (104) years ago on March 13, 1913, at Rose Hall Estate, and who today are being referred to as the Rose Hall Martyrs. The horrific incident is one of the ugliest reminders of British colonialism, and is another manifestation of the brutal conditions our forefathers had to contend with in colonial times.

Removed from this landmark event by over 100 years, we nevertheless get a grasp of what was at the root of the riot and killing from the work of researcher and author Basdeo Mangru. At Rose Hall in 1913, we learn, what triggered the workers’ protests was the reneging

by Manager James Smith of a promise of four days of additional holidays to workers due to their positive and encouraging work performance. This retreat, it seems, came at a time when discontent was rife.

It ignited an obviously combustible situation, which quickly deteriorated. One action led to a counter-action, and eventually the workers’ clearly just and justified struggles led to the shooting by the State’s police. In that shooting, fifteen (15) persons lost their lives, including a woman, Gobindei, and a Police Corporal.

Significantly, too, researcher Mangru wrote that this riot was raised in the Legislature of India by some Indian nationalists, who used this horrifying act to strengthen the call to end the indentureship system.

The GAWU, though established much later after this barbaric event, recognize the struggles and sacrifices of generations of sugar workers, and its contribution have brought about many changes in workers’ living and working conditions.

At this time, we of GAWU specifically give recognition and pay tribute to those COMBAT

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who fell at Plantation Rose Hall. They left a legacy which runs through the veins of the contemporary workforce of the sugar industry. This anniversary furthermore affords us the platform to remember those who also courageously fought and heroically fell in the struggles in other plantations in other parts of the country.

These fallen workers remind us that sugar’s history is enriched by the struggles, sacrifices and sweat and blood of the working class. That spirit has been kept alive in subsequent generations of workers, and has over decades, survived to this day in the industry.

Colonialism and the plantocracy system must bear full responsibility for these brutal deaths. In this event, we see that the owner class will stop at no crime to protect their property and profit. And, it is such past brutal experiences at the hands of private owners that presently strengthen our opposition to the call for privatisation in our day.

In the time that has elapsed since this historic event at Rose Hall Estate, the workers in the industry and the industry itself have advanced in several ways. It is therefore regrettable that attempts are constantly being made to reverse the hard won gains of workers in the industry. Increasingly, sugar workers find themselves engaged in actions to defend their rights and interests against our homegrown bureaucrats and their hirelings.

Rose Hall Estate occupies a special place in the nation’s sugar industry. It is at this location that then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham declared that the industry would be owned and operated by the people of Guyana. The estate is also the only estate which has been bestowed with a national award in recognition of its contribution in terms of production, efficiency, and most of all to the enterprising people of the area. It is therefore

disheartening for us to register that this year’s observance is overshadowed, to a large extent, by a proposal by the Government to soon close Rose Hall Estate.

The lives of thousands of ordinary, hardworking Guyanese stand to be affected should this unconscionable proposal be allowed to succeed.

Our times differ in many ways from the era in which the Rose Hall Martyrs lived. Conditions are not the same, and the demands we make are different yet 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.

And while demanding on 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 Rose Hall Estate were killed. One hundred and four (104) years, later we pay respect to their memory. 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 allround improvements.

In our fight of today, we also remember past battles and those like the Rose Hall Martyrs’, who had been the victims of colonial plunder and exploitation and fatal violence.

In this respect, GAWU, at a meeting with the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, was informed that the Government of Guyana is to take a significant role in this year’s commemoration, which in previous years have been spearheaded by a local committee which has done much to call attention to this sacrifice over 100 years ago. We welcome the involvement of the state in this event, and trust that it will become a truly national event.

GAWU feels that history’s lessons should not be forgotten, lest workers lower their vigilance and succumb to disunity, 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 Rose Hall Martyrs.

Long live the memory of the courageous Rose Hall Martyrs!

Forty-one (41) years...

Continued from page one (1) their conditions of work, and obtained greater benefits for them. GAWU has always been motivated by the need to defend workers’ rights and promote workers’ welfare, seeing these as necessary steps along the way to bring an end to exploitation and usher in profound social changes.

New challenges As we observe this important anniversary of the Union, we cannot fail to note the new challenges that are before us. For two (2) years now – 2015 and 2016 – sugar workers have not received any increases in pay while their Annual Production Incentive (API) was denied to them last year, the first time in 64 years. Other benefits, rights and conditions won through the struggles of workers are being denied or disrespected by the new authorities of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) with the seeming support of the political hierarchy.

The Union has also come under increasingly unwarranted attacks from GuySuCo. The Corporation has gone as far

as criticizing solidarity our Union and the workers have received from organisations locally and aboard. The attacks by the state-owned sugar corporation, we hold undoubtedly, have their origins in our Union’s forthright and unstinted stance in representing sugar workers and in advancing their rights and cause. Our role in providing leadership and opposing plans by the Corporation to close and sell-out estates has raised GuySuCo’s ire against our Union. The attacks we see are a poor attempt to divert attention from the Corporation’s miserable failures and its unconscionable decision-making in recent times. It is recalled that between May, 2015 and the end of 2016, the Corporation received from the Treasury $23.5B but recorded its worst production since 1990 last year.

GAWU will not be daunted by GuySuCo’s spurious attacks and unfounded accusations. We remain steadfastly committed to the cause of the workers, and will defend and uphold their rights and benefits while exposing the various antiworker and anti-union machinations of the Corporation.

PAGE ELEVEN

Achievement of first crop target seemingly unlikely The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), for the first sugar crop, is seeking to produce 74,172 tonnes sugar.

It is one of the lowest first crop targets in recent times, and is far from the Corporation’s potentiality. After six (6) weeks of operation, as at week-ending March 25, 2017 a quantity of 20,037 tonnes sugar was produced as follows:Estate Target Actual Deficit Skeldon 8,871 0 8,871 Albion 20,291 6,502 13,789 Rose Hall 12,962 3,021 9,941 Blairmont 11,676 5,187 6,489 Enmore 12,033 1,621 10,412 Uitvlugt 8,339 3,706 4,633 Total 74,172 20,037 54,135

- exposes GuySuCo’s falsehoods

At Skeldon, the first crop has been abandoned by GuySuCo. The Corporation is claiming that the factory’s boilers are unsafe and requires urgent repair works.

Those works, GuySuCo has advised, would take as much as six (6) months, and thus the decision was made to abandon the first crop. While works have begun there is possibility the time frame may be extended, and thus the second crop at Skeldon may also be abandoned.

With just a few weeks remaining before the rainy season arrives in late April/early May, the ability of the grinding estates to achieve their first crop targets is doubtful at this time.

Guyana’s future progress thwarted by reported sugar decision The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was very disturbed to learn from an article appearing in the March 02, 2017 Stabroek News that the Government, if the report is correct, is intent on closing Enmore and Rose Hall Estates and to divest Skeldon Estate. Such a decision would be yet another severe blow to the industry, and would bring to bear significant and severe hardships on thousands of ordinary Guyanese who are already hard-pressed economically. It is unfathomable that any enlightened Government would condemn our citizens to such great suffering.

As far as GAWU is concerned, there is still no comprehensive plan to address the livelihoods of the many workers who would be affected by the Administration’s callous and cold-hearted decisions regarding the industry. The talk about non-sugar diversification is just that – mere talk. That proof is glaringly exposed at Wales Estate - where little, if anything, in this direction is being done at this time though they are thousands who are affected.

Our Union holds, as we communicated to the Government on February 17, 2017, those diversification initiatives being proposed require further examination and study. Many essential elements, we

Investors expressing interest in Skeldon

recognized, were absent from the proposals shared with us, and there is still a lot of haziness concerning the ventures identified. We urged then, as we do again, that it would be unwise to move to close estates when many important questions related to the workers and their families’ livelihoods remain unanswered.

The divestment of Skeldon, we firmly believe, is also not in our interest as a nation. The pretext of significant investment to remedy the ‘deficiencies’ have been largely undermined by the ready expression of investors in acquiring the operations. Skeldon, we hold, has great potential to safeguard sugar as a whole, and can make a meaningful contribution to our nation, more especially in these troubling times.

GAWU reiterates that the industry’s future is assured, as we outlined in our presentation to the Government. A combination of diversification into energy production, refined white sugar, raw alcohol, among other things; and cost reduction through further mechanization and energy improvements, in addition to other initiatives lend to a sustainable and viable industry.

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The Skeldon sugar factory. The GuySuCo has said the factory is dilpaidated and requires large sums of money to put right. In spite of GuySuCo’s statements, foreign investors have expressed interest in taking over the estate, and one has said it can be made profitable in a short period

Through media reports, an Indian firm – Srinath Ispat Limited – has written to the Government of Guyana expressing its interest to take over all the operations at Skeldon Estate and has committed that it would make the Estate profitable in a short period. Separately, a Trinidadian enterprise – D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) – inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government in December, 2016 to conduct a feasibility study of the estate. That study will examine the production of ethanol, liquid sugar, alcohol, electricity and sugar at Skeldon.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) sees the ready interest being expressed in Skeldon as casting shadows on assertions by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) that Skeldon was a ticking time bomb that required significant sums to remedy. The fact the investors are saying that Skeldon could be profitable makes GAWU wonder why GuySuCo is not having similar results. The sugar corporation’s inability, we see, exposes glaringly the weaknesses at the managerial level and the urgent need for strengthening.

Given our long history in sugar, there are, we feel, many capable and able individuals who can steer sugar out of the rough waters it has found itself in currently.

The media also advises that the Indian

investor was seeking to have control of the co-generation plants, which are a significant income earner. A recent interaction between our Union and the Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI), the current operator of the plant, revealed that last year some $9.45B were realized from sales of electricity generated from the diesel and steam plants at Skeldon. Moreover, Srinath Ispat indicated that it was desirous of setting up a refinery to tap into the lucrative Caribbean market where prices for white sugar exceed US30 cents per pound. This option was also recommended by the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI), and is in keeping with GuySuCo’s original intentions for Skeldon, and is strongly supported by our Union for adoption by the Corporation. We believe such a move will see the industry benefiting from much higher revenues, which would be in the interest of the industry and the thousands linked to its operation. The situation calls for our active vigilance.

The investor interest being paid demonstrates, in our view, the value of the new Skeldon Factory as well as its possibilities. It has also further reinforced the GAWU’s strongly-held view that Skeldon was the right step, and that its success will redound to the entire sugar industry. We urge the Administration to consider carefully the ramifications of the decision in this regard, and the consequences for our economy and most of all our people.

COMBAT is a publication of the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) 59 High Street & Wights Lane, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana, S.A. Tel: 592-227-2091/2; 225-5321 , 223-6523 Fax: 592-227-2093 Email: gawu@bbgy.com Website: www.gawu.net