Combat - July/September, 2020

Issue #3 Volume #41

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

Editorial

Democracy triumphs!

July-September, 2020

Past leadership of GuySuCo responsible for woeful situation of industry

After a five (5)-month-long electoral crisis, democracy ultimately won out on August 02, 2020. The victory came exactly five (5) months after the holding of National and Regional Elections. Indeed, the period between March 02 and August 02, 2020 as among the most trying times in our country, and tested our people’s will and patience.

The electoral masquerade which was engaged in by the now former Coalition Administration threatened to take Guyana and Guyanese back many steps, and push our country down a dark path.

We risked the real threat of international isolation.

This would have been nothing short of disastrous for our people, and their very way of life would have been threatened with impoverishment. Suffering would have reached untold heights. This was the life we all would have been destined to, and the hardships that would have reached us. It was almost unimaginable to ponder what life in our beautiful nation would have descended to, and what a crushing blow it would have been to our people. It causes Combat to ponder which right-thinking leader/s would want their people to endure such pains and have all their life’s work just vanish before their eyes? Do such people really deserve to be called leaders? Certainly not in our book! Leaders look out for their people, protect them from harm, and build them up, not pull them down. But we saw that in our now former Governmental leaders hadn’t such attributes but the sucre and lust for political office, power, perks and privilege were very much put ahead of people and country.

But in as much as we must be despondent by those actions, we must recognise and appreciate, too, the tireless efforts of those who stood up to defend our democracy.

Nations all across the world stood firmly in defence of democracy. Many influential and notable personalities spoke out against the naked power grab. Locally, many organizations and individuals also added their voices and denounced the efforts of the Coalition to trample on our citizens’ democratic right to elect a government of their choice. The judiciary maintained its independence and also played a role in protecting our democracy. The seminal judgments emanating from the various courts will be a stark reminder of what transpired. The fearlessness displayed by many as they confronted a recalcitrant grouping seeking to take power, no matter the cost, will go down in the annals of history. Indeed the struggles of 2020 will form yet another chapter of the rich, inspiring struggles waged by the Guyanese people in their quest for democracy.

Continued on page two (2) COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

The GAWU among the matters it raised with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha expressed its deep concern regarding the ongoing 2020 second sugar crop.

The Union shared with the Minister that based on the emerging trend, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) would not be able to realize this year’s revised and lowered sugar production target.

To put the production into context, the sugar company at the beginning of the year said it would produce 114,162 tonnes sugar – 46,475 tonnes in the first crop and 67,687 tonnes in the second crop. The Corporation, in a press statement on July 27, 2020, admitted that it only managed to produce 37,015 tonnes sugar during the first crop, a deficit of 9,460 tonnes sugar.

It sought to whitewash its failure by disclosing that it was unable to harvest some 66,000 tonnes of canes.

That quantum of canes, based on the Corporation’s data, could have only produced 5,080 tonnes sugar. That information points out clearly, in our view, that the GuySuCo hadn’t the canes in the first place to produce its meet the first crop target and, we hold, was engaged in an exercise of deception.

Turning to the second crop, after some revision, the GuySuCo informed that it would produce 69,480 tonnes sugar. If the GuySuCo data was to be utilized, the Corporation ought to produce 72,767 tonnes sugar (67,687 + 5,080) but its sugar production target fell by 3,287 tonnes (72,767 – 69,480). While the GuySuCo, belatedly, may seek to offer an explanation, we turn to the present-day situation.

The Corporation’s major problem continues to be the lack of quality canes in its fields. Our information indicates that in as much as cane yields, expressed as tonnes cane per hectare (TcH), continues to be nearly

at or above budget we see cane quality, expressed as the tonnes cane to tonne sugar (Tc/Ts), woefully under budget.

We believe the data is instructive and points out that though the Corporation is apparently producing higher quantities of canes; those canes do not have the sucrose content expected. At the end of the day, the company is in the business of producing sugar though from the data it appears its really producing bagasse.

Based on the trend observed, we have derived the following estimate for the second crop 2020:Estate Estimated Target Variance Albion 19,794 36,870 -17,076 Blairmont 11,799 21,083 -9,284 Uitvlugt 9,270 11,527 -2,257 Industry 40,863 69,480 -28,587 Should these numbers hold it would mean that GuySuCo would produce 77,878 tonnes sugar. To put this into context, Albion Estate in 2002 produced by itself 67,916 tonnes sugar. We are nevertheless hopeful that the situation can improve and improve drastically in the coming weeks. As we considered what is transpiring, it is apposite to point out that the canes being harvested now have been tended since 2019 and the fruits of the work over the last year are now being reaped. Clearly, it appears to us that they were insufficient work and explanations now are required.

It seems to us that there is really no effort by the previous leadership of GuySuCo to meaningfully address the challenges. Rather it appears a laid back attitude has taken hold as the perennial whipping boys of strike and weather would be comfortably reached for.

Continued on page eight (8) PAGE ONE

Democracy triumphs!

Continued from page one (1) But in-as-much as we have several challenges ahead of us, we ought not to forget what transpired over the seemingly never-ending five (5) months. Indeed, the active conspirators, the henchmen, lackeys and hangers-on must be known to the Guyanese public. They have trudged

the image of our nation through the mud for their own ends. They put self-interest ahead of people and State. And, they were willing to bring an entire nation down to satisfy their lust for power. These individuals are special, and belong not in hallowed halls, but in the ignominy of history.

Workers’ interests must be safeguarded in plans for partnership

AMCAR workers benefit from hampers through the Social Security Ministry

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine presenting a hamper to one of the workers. Approxmiately 35 workers received hampers through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. GAWU approached Minister Vindhya Persaud after the Company suddenly suspended operations, leaving workers hard-pressed.

Approximately thirty-five (35) workers at the Rosignol location of the Amazon Caribbean Guyana Limited (AMCAR) received, on September 19, 2020, food hampers from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. The workers, whom are represented by the GAWU, were, without any forewarning, laid off for six (6) weeks earlier this month. The company said that it hadn’t been able to sell its products, prompting the decision to shut down operations. The sudden closure for the mainly female workforce hit hard, and many of the workers were simply unprepared for a loss in income at this time.

The GAWU reached out to Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud and shared the plight of the workers. Minister Persaud agreed immediately to assist, and provided the hampers which were distributed. At a simple presentation activity, Minister Persaud interacted with the workers by telephone.

The workers expressed their deep appreciation for the Minister’s assistance, and were most grateful. GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine, who spoke at last Saturday’s activity, also thanked the Minister and told the workers that the Union stands with them in this difficult time. He said the Union continues to engage the company, and is hopeful that some relief COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

could also come from that end as well. So far, the foreign-owned AMCAR has refused to even provide the workers their statutory leave entitlements. The workers also thanked the Union for standing up with them at a most difficult time. They said they were heartened by the Union seeking to find ways to provide them with the assistance they received, and were convinced that the GAWU had their interests at heart.

AMCAR, which produces mainly Heart of the Palm for export from its Rosignol location, has seemingly turned its back on its workers, who generate its wealth.

The apparent uncaring attitude by the company has left a most bitter taste in the workers’ mouths, who continue to give their best. The workers shared that at no time had they the slightest indication that the company would close operations, until rumours began to swirl around just a few days prior to the official announcement. Even the Union was not informed until it made contact with the company.

We see the arm’s length approach to the Union and the workers as unhelpful, and not engendering a good relationship. We nevertheless are hopeful that the company can recover and the workers can return to work, and sustained efforts to consolidate relations be employed.

The GAWU’s attention was drawn to comments by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, in the September 28, 2020 edition of the Stabroek News. That newspaper quoted Minister Mustapha as saying that the government was unable to sustain the industry on its own, and the Administration was “…looking at the private sector to help…”. The question of private interests in the sugar industry has long attracted discussion and contentions, more so given the wretched history of industry when it was controlled by the former sugar barons. Our Union was at the time among the many supportive voices which hailed the nationalization of the industry. We felt then, as we do now, that the industry served the interest of the nation in the hands of the State.

We also, at the same time, cannot be ignorant to the pressing realities which confront the industry. Our Union has lamented, in more recent times, the lack of managerial skill and the dearth of capital investment. We are convinced that the industry can rebound and play a more meaningful role, but such initiatives we know would require some amount of capital. This we pointed out to the former Coalition Administration in the early days of 2017, when we presented our paper titled “Securing the sugar industry”. In that paper, the Union outlined several initiatives which could assure of the industry’s turnaround and success.

Through that paper as well, we urged the then Government to consider partnerships with the private sector or other institutional investors to bring those initiatives to life. Unfortunately, the Coalition chose to ignore that and every suggestion we made then, and we have seen the sorrowful state-of-affairs that unfolded.

The new Irfaan Ali Government, it appears, has decided to go the route we had previously suggested. While we welcome all initiatives to safeguard the sugar industry and make it is “...maintained and sustained”, as Minister Mustapha said according to the Stabroek News, we also urge the Administration to give sincere and careful consideration to welfare and well-being of the thousands of the industry workers. President Ali has recently signalled his understanding of the hardship and misery that greeted workers and their families following the closure of estates. We are sure he wishes to remove that ignominious stain and avoid a situation that will engender a repetition. It is against this background that the GAWU sees the need for the rights and conditions of workers being safeguarded as the industry moves into its next phase of development.

The GAWU remains a committed partner to the turnaround of the sugar industry. In as much as we seek to see the industry recover and take its rightful place in our economic scheme, we know of its critical importance to workers and their communities. This, we see too, was recognised by the Agriculture Minister who, according to the Stabroek News, said “… people are looking forward to their communities being re-energized, to having new areas of employment and a number of other benefits.” It is from this point-ofview that we see that the Government, while seeking to implement policies that bring about sustainable sugar industry must strike a balance, knowing of the critical socio-economic importance the industry has to thousands of Guyanese and to scores of communities throughout Guyana.

PAGE TWO

Sugar workers’ incomes fell by 60 per cent after estate closure

The GAWU saw President Irfaan Ali, in the September 23, Stabroek News, saying that the trail of destruction in the sugar industry left by the Coalition was like a hurricane. The President’s description is indeed fitting. It provides a jarring picture of the damage the APNU+AFC inflicted on GuySuCo and moreso on thousands of sugar workers and their families.

And it is against this background that we believe the industry is probably at its lowest point.

With the last five (5) years of deliberate undermining, the true situation has now fully unveiled itself. We were aware that the situation was acute, but we were simply flabbergasted to learn that essential equipment and implements were simply not there. Our Union did disclose, sometime ago, that the NICIL and its creature called SPU were liquidating moveable assets at fire sale prices. Clearly, in our view, the ‘slash and burn’ approach to sugar was done with one sole intention; that is, to cripple the industry to the point of no return. This was achieved at Wales, and as the President indicated, the resumption of operations will see Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates having to be rebuilt from the ground up.

On this score, we were heartened to learn that the President is more imbued to bring the estates back to life and to put those sent on the breadline back to work.

We hold that where there is a will there is a way, and the President has demonstrated his willingness not only to reopen the estates, but make the sugar industry viable and sustainable. As the GAWU has pointed out time and again, the sugar industry has several worthwhile opportunities for a secure future.

But while the President rightly speaks to the hurricane that swept through the estates, it was a massive tsunami which fell on the heads of thousands of workers and their families who were placed COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

on the breadline. Arising from GAWU’s representation, the ILO commissioned a socio-economic study in the closed estates. That report, which is presently being finalized, made some important findings. The data collected through focus groups, revealed that incomes among those laid off has fallen by a staggering sixty-four (64) per cent. At the same time, sixty-two (62) per cent of those interviewed revealed their children’s educational pursuits have been compromised as eighty-one (81) per cent of the workers interviewed hadn’t been able to find full time jobs. At Wales, for instance, three (3) years after that estate closed, as many as sixty (60) per cent of the workers remained unemployed.

The study found, unsurprisingly, that crime and alcoholism went up. When those interviewed were asked to express their apprehensions about the future on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being most worrisome, almost unanimously those interviewed expressed their anxieties as a 10. It is a clear indicator as to how deeply crucial the estates were to the workers, and how large a vaccum closure created.

The study found, too, that many persons have had to leave the communities in search of jobs elsewhere.

The study, and moreso its findings, is yet another indicator of the importance of the sugar industry to Guyana and Guyanese. It demonstrates the correctness of the decision to reopen the estates closed by the Coalition and to revitialise as a whole the entire industry. It was, for us, therefore, most disturbing when we continue to see the anti-sugar venom being demonstrated by the Coalition, now in Opposition. The September 18, Guyana Chronicle reported that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan labelled the reopening as the Government rewarding its base. It was that narrow, small-minded and perverted thinking that caused Mr Ramjattan to

support hook, line and sinker, that closure in the first place.

We would have thought that having seen the full impact of that decision, he would have recognised the wisdom in the decision to resuscitate the industry. But it appears that the erstwhile gentleman is still blinded by his blinkers, and rather wishes to see that thousands of Guyanese are pushed into misery and impoverishment. It is that sort of thinking that distinguishes so-called leaders from genuine leaders.

The Opposition’s spitefulness continued as Mr Jermaine Figueira, according to a September 22 Demerara Waves report, wanted to speak about costs in the sugar industry. We had to wonder to ourselves whether Mr Figuera was really serious. It was Mr Figueira’s party, when in Government, that brought sugar to its knees. It was Mr Figue’ra’s party, which starved the industry of capital though it borrowed billions. It was

Mr Figueira’s party which discriminated against the sugar workers. It was Mr Figueira’s party, which allowed GuySuCo’s assets to be used as personal belongings of some. It was under Mr Figueira’s party that sugar production plummeted 60% in five (5) years and recorded last year the lowest production in more than eighty (80) years. And now Mr Figueira’s with a straight face, wants to talk about cost after the bastardisation of the sugar industry over the last five (5) years.

So, while the Opposition may want to engage in a hue-and-cry about sugar, it is the people that matter. It is they and their families who have lost, and have lost dearly, for that matter. The creation of thousands of jobs will provide massive spin-off effects not only for the sugar belt, but the entire economy. Billions of dollars more will flow through the economy.

People will regain that pride they once had, and people will be able to begin to put their lives back together. So, while there are an unimportant few that will try to denigrate the decision of the Ali Administration, the people are wiser and will ignore their superfluous harping and needless buzzing.

Uitvlugt factory workers down tools as they grow frustrated with poor operations On September 16, 2020, a number of workers attached to the Uitvlugt factory downed tools as they expressed their frustrations with the growing inefficient functioning of the factory. The workers, who belong to both the GAWU and the NAACIE, related that for many weeks now they have been expressing their concerns to the senior management of the estate, and it appears their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

Workers shared that muddied canes are being delivered to the factory and this is creating several headaches. Previously, a washing system was utilized to remove, to a great extent, the mud; however, this apparently has become ineffective. Apart from that, the factory is suffering from severe and several defects. We warned earlier this year that at Uitvlugt no spares were procured, and worn out components were lubricated and reinstalled during the mid-year out-of-crop period.

They said they have raised these issues with several managers, but nothing was done.

The lethargic attitude of some managers is very upsetting to the workers. They pointed out that some difficulties experienced during the evening of September 12 were not resolved until the next morning. They shared that though they sought the assistance of a senior factory personnel, that individual, who resides

in the estate compound, only showed up the next morning. That individual’s inaction allowed the issue to persist for several hours, to the detriment of the estate.

Uitvlugt, which is now in its fifth week of operations, has already seen some 168 hours lost due to breakdown. This is in excess of a (1) week’s operations.

The GAWU, for some time now, has been highlighting the declining performance of the industry’s factories, though there were concerted attempts in recent times to boost the factory operations department of the Corporation. It was felt that at least some improvement would have been seen by those who were held out as being most capable, this alas was not the case. And, it is the industry and by extension the workers who continue to suffer.

Arising from the workers’ protest, a meeting was held between representatives of GAWU and NAACIE and the Estate’s Management, to seek to iron out the difficulties which have arisen and contributed to the protest action. Apart from that, the Corporation’s new CEO led a visit to the factory, accompanied by Union representatives, and had a first hand look at the situation. It was recognised that several issues were impeding performance.

PAGE THREE

There was a purposeful intent to de

- GAWU’s General Secretary, See Mr Speaker, it is with great pride and honour that I rise to address for first time, this Honourable House. I am humbled, as I know I stand proudly on the shoulders of other trade unionists whose contributions in this August body brought fundamental and significant improvements to our working-people. I also take pride, that I stand in this Honourable House with the PPP/C, a party that emerged from the working-class movement and one which has retained its close links with not only the workers, but the farmers, the youth, the women and the downtrodden of our society.

Mr Speaker, my first intervention in this House is even

more special as I speak to the 2020 National Budget which would impact upon the life of every Guyanese and align our development thrust with the needs of our people. That is not surprising, Mr Speaker, as the PPP/C’s record in office has been one of service to the people and their all-round development. The re-establishment of the Ministry of Labour is a living example of the PPP/C commitment to respect the working people.

Mr Speaker, it was indeed refreshing to listen to my colleague, the Honourable Minister Juan Edghill articulate, plan after plan, initiative after initiative and programme COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

after programme all geared at improving the well-being, of all Guyanese. Certainly, it was a much welcomed and marked departure from the budgets we had in the last five years when Guyanese feared what next would be increased and what else would be taken away from them.

This time around there was not any creaming off of billions for the elites. Rather those billions, twenty-plus billion dollars to be exact, would be going into the pockets of the Guyanese people, who need and deserve it all.

Mr Speaker, Budget 2020 marks the first step in the journey to reverse the vampire-like policies that plagued our nation over the last five (5) years when the Coalition

spared no one, but themselves. Guyanese had to pay all the way from the cradle to the grave. That was the life the Coalition condemned the Guyanese people to, while their elites flew here, there and everywhere; and benefitted from healthcare in faraway lands. At the same time, Mr Speaker many poor Guyanese faced troubled times to put meals on their table, they could not get drugs from the public hospitals and health centres, and many of their gains were sucked away by the Coalition Government.

Mr Speaker, Budget 2020 is a pro-people, progressive

budget with significant attention to lifting our working people, putting them to work, and making them and their families comfortable while building a better and stronger Guyana for our children. Mr Speaker, this is a Budget of hope for all Guyana where we will see our nation’s prosperity benefitting all and not a few as we saw during the Coalition regime.

Mr Speaker, over 30 per cent of the Budget has been allocated towards the health and education sectors. This is equivalent to more than one hundred billion dollars being spent in probably the two most critical areas of our country. This is a clear signal of the priorities of the

vision of a Government that cares for its people.

Sugar Industry Mr Speaker, as someone who has been associated with the sugar industry for many years and more so the struggles of the sugar workers, their families and their communities, the Budget was a breath of fresh air. It is no secret, Mr Speaker that the Coalition purposefully, sought to demolish and destroy the sugar industry to their own nefarious ends. There is no other reasonable explanation for the Coalition’s attitude to the industry PAGE FOUR

emolish and destroy sugar industry

epaul Narine tells the Parliament and the tens of thousands who depend on its operations.

was not spiteful then tell me what it was.

Sugar production last year was the lowest in eighty years. During the life of the Coalition, sugar production fell by over 60 per cent bringing the industry now to its lowest ebb. This happened under the Coalition Government which prior to its election, said it had all the answers and knew what had to be done. They certainly had the wrong answers.

Mr Speaker, it is said that not all downfalls are bad luck.

The best days for sugar are still ahead.

His Excellency, President Mohamed Irfan Ally pledged his commitment to re-open the closed sugar estates and to once more breed life into those communities which the Granger/ Na g a mootoo Administration turned into ghost towns.

B u d get 2020 demonstrates that comm it m e nt with the allocation of five billion dollars for the sugar industry.

Over 7,000 sugar workers in the m i d s t of the Yu l e t i d e Christmas Season were put on the breadline in a most callous, cruel and heartless act described as the largest retrenchment exercise in post-independent Guyana.

One could never forget the December 06, 2017 Stabroek News, front page, screaming out 2000 workers sent home at Skeldon while, at the bottom of that same page there was a picture of former President, David Granger petting elephants in Africa. What a shame!

What sort of Government were they? What kind of leader puts thousands out of work without any plan to deal with the fallout? Didn’t they have any compassion for these workers and their families? They were least concerned about how these Guyanese citizens would eat, send their children to school, or pay their bills. If that COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

Mr Speaker, that is not all, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Zulifikar Mustapha has already put together a team to commence work for the re-opening of Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates. In fact, the Honourable Minister accompanied by yours truly and other union officials along with technical personnel visited the closed estates for meeting with the people.

Mr Speaker, the dark clouds and hopelessness which hovered over the sugar industry over the last five (5) years will disappear as the dawn of a new era unfolds.

Mr Speaker, over the last few years, I expressed publicly my deep apprehensions with the mismanage of the sugar industry by the Coalition Administration. I am heartened that this PPP/C Government have begin the process to have a capable Board of Directors with a committee Managerial team.

The industry has several possibilities for success. Opportunities for electricity production, refined and pack-

aged sugar, alcohol and bottled molasses, among other things assure of a successful and viable future. Over the last five (5) years much was lost and the sustained efforts to restore the industry’s viability was torpedoed by an unsympathetic Administration who certainly didn’t understand, or possibly didn’t care, about sugar’s importance not only to its workers and their families, but to our entire nation and economy. Among their sins was five years no increase in pay to the sugar workers for five years notwithstanding all other state employees receiving increases each year.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I must complement our team of the PPP/C Administration who undoubtedly worked tirelessly to bring this Budget in a short period despite the challenges they confronted.

Foremost must have been COVID-19, which like sugar, was badly bungled by the Coalition is only now being proactively addressed with billions being channeled to bring relief and to heighten our response. I see too the Budget making active efforts to address the infrastructure deficits and the paucity in Government services too. These are welcome developments which will redound to our people.

Mr Speaker, as I said before, this is a Budget of hope which brings Christmas in September. Indeed, Budget 2020 has something for everyone.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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Trump is hellbent on provoking a new Cold War also expanded its military forces and infrastructure closer to R u s s i a’s borders during this time too.

By Andrew Korybko Trump’s famous promise to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) should have come with the caveat that he planned to do so by provoking a New Cold War with China and Russia. He led his supporters into thinking that he meant to focus more on internal issues than international ones, which some in hindsight wrongly portrayed as quasi-isolationalism. Lo and behold, however, MAGA has arguably turned into the most aggressive US foreign policy in decades, which makes it extremely dangerous for global stability.

Truth be told, Trump did imply something of the sort while on the campaign trail, but few realized how far he intended to go. He’s known for ranting about China’s trade policies, so many foresaw the trade war that followed his election, but the scale and scope of his anti-Chinese policies likely surprised even the most rabid anti-communist elements of his base. Trump didn’t just try to broker a new trade deal, but took aim at China’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), some of its tech companies like Huawei and TikTok, and its territorial integrity.

Since the beginning of this year, he’s also ridiculously claimed that China is responsible for COVID-19. Secretary of State Pompeo rattled the US Hybrid War sabre earlier this summer during his landmark speech at the Nixon Library, which was followed up by Trump’s dramatic address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) last week that compared China to Nazi Germany. So serious are US-Chinese tensions as a result of this unprovoked onslaught that UN Secretary General Guterres opened the UNGA debate by warning against a “New Cold War”.

It’s not just China that’s victimized by Trump’s MAGA strategy, but Russia as well, despite Trump’s opponents continuing to claim that he’s under the influence of Moscow. He once bragged about how “I have been FAR tougher on Russia than Obama, Bush or Clinton. Maybe tougher than any other President”, pointing to his intense sanctions regime against the country that he once promised, on the campaign trail, to partner with. NATO has COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

On top of that, the Tr u mp Administration has been accused

by Russia and Belarus of orchestrating the latest political unrest in the latter, and is also currently trying to assemble a coalition against Russia’s Nord Stream II pipeline with Germany. Russia’s Turkish Stream pipeline with Turkey and the Balkans is also being threatened. Not only that, but anti-Russian spy scandals are a dime a dozen nowadays in the US and its NATO allies, which serve the purpose of creating pretexts for imposing even more sanctions’ pressure on Moscow.

There’s a method to this madness, however, and it’s important to point it out in order to expose the truth about how Trump’s MAGA strategy operates. The three most common denominators linking the US’ Hybrid Wars on China and Russia are geopolitics, economics, and fake news. America wants to “contain” both countries, to which end it’s increased its military presence in the South China Sea and Eastern Europe respectively, while targeting BRI, Chinese tech companies, and Russian energy ones using fake news.

The Trump Administration believes that the combined effect of these three simultaneous Hybrid War fronts against what it regards as its two main rivals will result in “decoupling” them from their primary partners across the world, thereby leading to their “isolation”. As a means to that end, the US is provoking a New Cold War, the acknowledgement of which debunks the notion that MAGA is a “peaceful”, “inward-looking”, “isolationist” strategy. To the contrary, it’s the most aggressive and dangerous US foreign policy in decades.

For as optimistic as Trump is about its prospects of success, the deck is stacked against him. The world wised up to his scheme over the past three years, especially after Presidents Xi and Putin condemned unilateralism, trade wars, and sabre-rattling during their speeches last week at the UNGA. Their countries are also close strategic partners who are coordinating their response to the US Hybrid Wars against them. With China and Russia standing up to America, Trump’s realizing that MAGA is much easier to shout than to actualize in real life.

Inequality and COVID-19

By Sarah Anderson and Brian Wakamo The United States has just surpassed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths — about the number who perished in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and more than the American lives lost in the Vietnam War, 9/11, and World War I combined. As many grieved this grim milestone, President Trump told a campaign rally crowd that the disease affects “virtually nobody.”

But the hard data we’ve gathered show undeniable catastrophic health and economic impacts on ordinary Americans, particularly in marginalized communities. An analysis of Forbes data shows that while the total wealth of the more than 600 U.S. billionaires has grown significantly under COVID, the fortunes of the richest five have grown even faster. Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk saw a 59 percent increase in their combined wealth between March 18 and September 10, from $358 billion to $569 billion.

Meanwhile, the pandemic recession has hit the poorest workers hardest. According to University of Chicago researchers, the lowest-income workers were the most likely to lose their jobs between February 1, 2020 and the end of June, while the highest-income workers had the lowest job loss rate during this period.

Data also indicates that more equal societies are better able to handle the pandemic. Relatively egalitarian Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and South Korea did initially experience very high rates of COVID-19 infections, but over the past several months, these countries have general-

ly performed better than the United States at reducing their pandemic death rates, according to data from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

Between August 1 and September 15, 2020, the U.S. death rate per million people was closer to that of Brazil and Mexico, two highly unequal developing countries, than it was to the rates of more egalitarian developed nations. One major factor: unlike the United States, all of the countries in this chart that have made substantial progress towards controlling COVID-19 have universal public health care.

The Trump Administration’s failure to control the pandemic has hit Black and Indigenous people particularly hard. According to the APM Research Lab, Black Americans have COVID-19 death rates that are more than twice as high as other races. The pandemic economic crisis has also been especially devastating for Black and Brown families. A Pew Research Center survey in April showed that 61 percent of Latin households and 44 percent of Black households had experienced a job or wage loss due to the pandemic, compared to 38 percent of White households.

In time, we are hopeful that the data will begin to show a reversal of these disturbing trends. In the midst of so much suffering, more and more people of all races, genders, and economic backgrounds are standing up and fighting for transformative change. They are demanding more than merely an end to the pandemic and the recession. They are demanding a new, more just, equitable, and sustainable society and economy.

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The insanity of “sustainability”. Towards “global capitalism painted green”

By Peter Koenig Wars go on and on. They are exactly the anti-dote of sustainability. Though, they may be the only “sustainability” modern mankind knows – endless destruction, killing, shameless exploitation of Mother Earth and its sentient beings, including humans, all for greed, and more greed - greed and destruction are certainly “unsustainable” features of our western “civilization”. Not to worry, in the grand scheme of things, Mother Earth will survive.

In the meantime, we lie about the sustainability we live in. We lie to ourselves and to the public at large around us. We make believe sustainability is our cause – and we use the term freely and constantly. Most of us don’t even know what it is supposed to mean. “Sustainability” and “sustainable” anything and everything have become slogans; or household words. It has about as many interpretations as there are people who use the term. It sounds good, because it has become, well, a household word ever since the World Bank invented, or rather diverted the term for “sustainable development” in the 1990s in connection, first, with Global Warming, then with Climate Change and now back to both.

Imagine there was a time at the World Bank – and possibly other institutions, - when every page of almost every report had to contain at least once the word “sustainable”, or “sustainability”. Yes, that was the extent of insanity propagated then, and today it follows on a global scale, more sophisticated – the corporate world, the mega-polluters make it their buzz-word – our business is sustainable, and we with our products promote sustainability worldwide.

The 17 sustainable development goals are all driving towards a Green Agenda, or as some prominent “left” US Democrat-political figures call it, the New Green Deal.

It is nothing else but capitalism painted Green, at a horrendous cost for mankind and for the resources of the world. But it is sold under the label of creating a more sustainable world. Never mind the enormous amounts of hydrocarbons – the key polluter itself – that will be needed to convert our “black” economy into a Green economy. The energy cost (hydrocarbon-energy from oil and coal) of producing solar panels and windmills is astounding. So, today’s electric cars – Tesla and Co. – COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

are still driven by hydrocarbon produced electricity – plus their batteries made from lithium destroy pristine landscapes, like huge natural salt flats in Bolivia, Argentina, China and elsewhere. The use of these sources of energy is everything but “sustainable”.

Hydrogen power is promoted as the panacea of future energy resources.

But is it really? Hydrocarbons or fossil fuels today amount to 80% of all energy used worldwide. This is non-renewable and highly polluting energy. Today to produce hydrogen is still mostly dependent on fossil fuels, similar to electricity.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the IMF are fully committed to the idea of the New Green Deal. For them it is not unfettered neoliberal capitalism – and extreme consumerism emanating from it, that is the cause for the world’s environmental and societal breakdown, but the use of polluting energies, like hydrocarbons.

They seem to ignore the enormous fossil fuel use to convert to a green energy-driven economy. Or, are they really not aware? Capitalism is OK, we just have to paint it green (see this, and this).

Water use and privatization – Coca Cola tells us their addictive and potentially diabetes-causing soft drinks are produced “sustainably”. They tout sustainability as their sales promotion all over the world. “Our business is sustainable from A to Z. Coco Cola follows a business culture of sustainability.”

They use enormous amounts of pristine clean drinking water – and so does Nestlé to further promote its number One business branch, bottled water. Nestlé has overtaken Coca Cola as the world number one in bottled water. They both use primarily subterranean sources of drinking water – least costly and often rich in minerals. Both of them have made or are about to sign agreements with Brazil’s President to exploit the world’s largest freshwater aquifer, the Guarani, underlaying Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. They both proclaim sustainability.

Both Coca Cola and Nestlé have horror stories in the Global South (i.e. India, Brazil, Mexico and others), as well as in the Global North. Nestlé is in a battle with the municipality of the tiny Osceola Township, in Michigan, where residents complain the Swiss company’s water extraction techniques are ruining the environment. Nestlé pays the State of Michigan US$200 to extract 130 million gallons of water per year (2018).

Through over-exploitation both in the Global South and the Global North, especially in the summer, the water table sinks to unattainable levels for the local populations – which are deprived of their water source. Protesting with their government or city officials is often in vain. Corruption is all overarching. – Nothing sustainable here.

These are just two examples of privatizing water for bottling purposes. Privatization of public water supply on a much larger scale is at the core of the issue, carried out mostly in developing countries (the Global South), mainly by French, British, Spanish and US water corporations.

Privatization of water is a socially most unsustainable feat, as it deprives the public, especially the poor, from access to their legitimate water resources. Water is a public good – and water is also a basic human right.

On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights.

BP with its green business emblem, makes believe – visually, every time you pass a BP station – that they are green. BP proclaims that their oil exploration and exploitation is green and environmentally sustainable.

Let’s look at reality. The so far considered largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It was a giant industrial disaster that started on April 20, 2010 and lasted to 19 September 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico on the BP-operated Macondo Prospect, spilling about 780,000 cubic meter of raw petroleum over an area of up to 180,000 square kilometers. BP promised a full cleanup. By February 2015 they declared task completed. In reality, two thirds of the spilled oil still remains in the sea and as toxic tar junks along the sea shore and beaches; they have not been cleaned up – and may never be removed. – Where is the sustainability of their promise? Another outright lie. BP and other oil corporations also have horrendous human rights records – just about everywhere they operate, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, but also in Asia. The abrogation of human rights is also an abrogation of sustainability.

Sustainable mining – is another flagrant lie. But it sells well to the blinded people. And most of the civilized world is blinded. Unfortunately. They want to continue in their comfort zone which includes the use of copper, gold and other precious metals and stones, rare earths for ever more sophisticated electronic gear, gadgets and especially military electronically guided precision weaponry – as well as hydrocarbons in one way or another.

In fact, our civilization’s sustainability is zero. Aside from the pollution, poisoning and intoxication that we leave around us, our mostly western civilization has used natural resources at the rate of 3 to 4 times in excess of what Mother Earth so generally provides us with.

We, the west, had passed the threshold of One in the mid-sixties. In Africa and most of Asia, the rate of depletion is still way below the factor of One, on average somewhere between 0.4 and 0.6.

The sustainability of everything is not only a cheap slogan, it’s a ruinous self-deception. A Global Great Reset is indeed needed – but not according to the methods of the IMF and WEF. They would just shovel more resources and assets from the bottom 99.99% to the top few, painting the “new” capitalism a shiny bright green – and fooling the masses. We, The People, must take The Reset in our own hands, with consciousness and responsibility. So, We the People, forget sustainable but act responsibly.

PAGE SEVEN

FITUG appalled by brutal murder of Henry boys

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) joins with many Guyanese in expressing our deep concern over the brutal murder of Joel and Isaiah Henry whose lifeless bodies were discovered in the backlands of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. The horrific killing of these young men, who ventured to the backlands to obtain coconuts a task reportedly they have done on several occasions, is uncalled for and is, undoubtedly, the product of depraved mind/s.

munities as people are understandably upset. In as much as we recognise the deep-seated sentiments harboured we urge that protests be peaceful and do not bring harm to people nor property. We have seen reports about one person being held to assist the investigations and we urge the Guyana Police Force to ensure that justice is swift and those culpable are made to answer for their horrific deeds.

The shocking discovery has sent a thunderbolt of anger through several com-

At this time, the FITUG extends its sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the Joel and Isaiah Henry. Our prayers are with the family in this difficult period as we share in their grief and pain.

Several sections of the media reported on an engagement between Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and representatives of Exxon-Mobil. From those media reports we learnt that Minister Hamilton addressed concerns about pay levels of Guyanese vis-à-vis foreigners as well as unionization of workers in the sector.

The Minister’s engagement followed Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo who had also expressed concerns about workers’ pay levels.

In this regard, our Union made a public announcement of its willingness to assist and offer guidance to unorganized workers. Since then to now, a few workers from the oil sector have engaged us and shared with us some documents. Those interactions and review of documents were for us revealing. We recognised that workers’ in the sector are really being taken advantage of and many of their rights are not respected. Moreover, long-standing practices embraced by many sectors are absent in the supposedly high-paying oil and gas sector. Worse of all the workers are practically threatened against seek-

ing union representation. We have learnt that even a quip in that direction results in a fast and furious response to make such workers an example obviously to intimidate and instill fear.

Our country has had a proud tradition of progressive advancement of workers’ rights. We, therefore, have a responsibility to defend those rights and to stand with those workers in the sector who are literally being exploited without any recourse to justice. Given the travails the oil sector workers are enduring, and the several victories of workers in Guyana, the GAWU cannot remain silent or stand at the sidelines. We see the need to speak up and speak out. We see the need to ensure that workers’ rights are upheld. As we once again reiterate our willingness to advance workers’ rights, be assured of our continued voice in defence of all workers who need protection and help.

We again invite any worker who has difficulties at their workplaces, or just requires clarity or explanation to approach us whether online or in person. We stand ready to assist.

GAWU will not allow oil companies to exploit Guyanese!

COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

FITUG recognizes nurses concerns are being addressed

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has seen pockets of protest actions by nurses over the last few days. We acknowledge that the nurses and other frontline workers have done and are doing a yeoman job in this pandemic period and appreciate the sacrifices they are making to safeguard the nation’s health at this point in time. We know the situation is obviously challenging and all our frontline workers have gone above and beyond. Indeed, we are eternally grateful for their efforts.

Through the media, the Federation has learnt that the nurses are demanding risk allowances and other improvements in their conditions. While they could be some justification in the some of the calls of the nurses, we, at the same time, recognise that those calls are being actively addressed. The recently approved 2020 National Budget has approved certain sums directed towards the very issues they nurses are expressing concerns. Maybe it was a case that the nurses were unaware or it could be the case they were misled?

Whatever that case was, we recognise that the Government has brought clarity to the issues and it is expected with the Budget now being approved and the Appropriation Bill soon to be assented to

by President Irfaan Ali aggressive efforts would soon be made to bring relief and comfort to our hard working nurses and all front line workers.

We saw too concerns being expressed

about pay rise in the public sector. There was talk coming from some quarters that a pay rise may not be possible this year with such a feature being absent from the Budget. The question of pay rise in the public sector, with the exception of 2015, has not been addressed by the Budget for many years. Pay rises had been, for the last few years, approved by the Government and apparently endorsed by the major union. While we know that the new Government has found itself between a rock and a hard place, we saw this matter being clarified with Minister Juan Edghill not ruling such an improvement out. The Minister, according to the media, informed the National Assembly that the Government, at an appropriate time, would address the issue.

We are hopeful in the coming days and weeks that the several policies approved by the Budget will be rolled out to bring relief to our beleaguered people. Indeed, the situation is trying and people require all the help they can receive. We know too that the Government, in spite of its limitations, has tried to grant some reprieve.

On this score, we did see President Ali recently recommitting to work towards improving the lot of all workers during his term. From what we have seen from the President thus far, we believe, that he will fulfill his commitment and workers and their families will be able to enjoy a more comfortable and contented life.

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down. It sadly brings into focus the commitment of those who were entrusted with the Corporation’s leadership many of whom championed estate closures and massive layoffs. Today all their talk about a smaller, efficient Corporation stands nakedly exposed and is yet another indicator that they were illsuited for the task.

Past leadership of GuySuCo responsible for woeful situation of industry Clearly, as the data bears out, the problem is much more fundamental and it appears there was no emphasis to meaningfully address those realities but rather to engage in a vicious cycle which serves to push the industry further and further

PAGE EIGHT

Mr Gaskin should be the last to talk about plan for sugar!

Our Union recognised the contentions of former Business Minister, Mr Dominic Gaskin regarding the re-opening of Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore estates which appeared in the September 04, 2020 Kaieteur News.

It is interesting that the former Minister has chosen to talk about having a plan regarding the re-opening of the estates.

While we share his view, he may choose to edify whether there was any plan regarding the sugar industry as a whole during his stint in Government. For us and certainly for the thousands who were pushed into misery as their lost their jobs and their income sources vanished, there couldn’t have been any plan.

Mr Gaskin may want to say that there was a plan to retain three (3) estates and improve their viability. But again we have serious doubts whether such a plan really existed. In fact, our sustained requests to obtain a copy of that ‘plan’ has been in vain. Moreover, the entire nation have seen how much the retained estates have regressed from producing 113,477 tonnes sugar in 2015 to an expected 77,000 tonnes sugar this year. We should remind the nation that Mr Gaskin’s government promised that sugar production would reach 150,000 tonnes this year. They paraded that $30B was borrowed to ensure that the estates retained would be revitalized and made sustainable. However,

the proof is in the pudding. And, on this score we saw recently President Irfaan Ali pointing out that an assessment was being conducted as it appeared there was inefficient use of the bond proceeds. Indeed, the President is correct as not one project earmarked from the bond proceeds has even broken ground while millions are paid out as interest.

But since Mr Gaskin wants to talk about plans the reality is that the entire industry could have been saved. Opportunities in co-generation, refined and packaged sugar, distilling, and value-added molasses were identified and provided a platform for a sustainable future. Several studies have testified to the usefulness of these initiatives but they were for all intents ignored. Even the Commission of Inquiry appointed by Mr Gaskin’s government recommended that these ventures be pursued but no heed was paid. The fact is that no matter the plan which envisaged the retaining of all of the sugar estates would not have received the support of the Coalition. We make this point as we draw attention that our Union provided a road map to the then Government during the early days of 2017. This too was ignored and never saw the light of day. It goes to show that we can have the best plan in the world, but if there is a lack of commitment by the powers-thatbe nothing can really materialize.

Mr Gaskin, during his interview, expressed that the industry was not profitable as he denounced the re-opening plans. It is this mentality that distinguishes leaders. The reality while the sugar industry was not financially profitable at this time, though it can be nurtured to that state, but from an economic point of view it brought significant windfalls to the economy at several levels. We have seen the NIS complaining about the loss of thousands of contributors as a result of the closure and the effects it has on the Scheme. We saw as well the billions Central Government is incurring to undertake drainage in the close estate areas. We saw too loss to village economies which depended on sugar worker and their families consumption. Similarly, we should not forget the losses to the GRA or the NDCs. The truth of the matter is that the narrow, blinkered outlook held by the previous administration and their inability to see the entire picture has resulted in significant damage inflicted to the industry.

The former Minister pointed out too that talk is cheap as he continued his lamentations. He must have been referring to the utterances of him and his former colleagues during the 2015 elections campaign. At that time, sugar workers were promised 20 per cent increase but they were pauperized and pushed into poverty. The Coalition said then it had all the

answers to remedy the difficulties in sugar and, without ambiguity, it committed that no estate would be closed. So indeed, Mr Gaskin’s Government demonstrated that talk is cheap as it remorselessly closed estates.

We saw too that Mr Gaskin arguing for a comprehensive plan for job creation in the closed estate communities. This ought to be an automatic consequence of the closure decisions. What we saw in reality, during the sojourn of the Coalition, was that those in the sugar belt left on their own and made to figure out how to piece their lives back together without even the scantest of concern from the then Government. It is almost unimaginable that former President David Granger not once visited these communities to see how these Guyanese were fearing. So it’s easy to talk now, but when he was in the driver’s seat nothing was done.

The reality is that many of the former sugar workers eagerly anticipate the re-opening of estates. They have suffered greatly over the last years and for some their lives may never be able to go back to what it was previously. We hold that indeed a credible plan is necessary but we believe that sugar’s best days are ahead of it. With a supportive Government many feats can be realised and the industry can go on to make an even more meaningful contribution.

Mr Granger should be last to talk about sugar

The GAWU saw incumbent PNC leader and former President David Granger charging that the commitment to re-open those estates closed under his watch was, as he put it, ‘fake news’. According to an August 16, 2020 Newsroom article, Mr Granger is quoted as saying “[e]ven the unions are asking when are they going to open the sugar plantations again…”. As far as we know, no union in the industry has expressed such concerns. Our Union did recognise and welcome the assurance by President Dr Irfaan Ally that his Government is committed to that undertaking.

Mr Granger is reported as saying that the incumbent Administration, during its previous stints in office, “…closed the estates at Diamond and Lusignan.” For his benefit, once again, Lusignan factory did not even exist when GuySuCo came into being in 1976 and the Lusignan cultivation remained operable until Mr Granger’s Government closed it in 2017.

As it concerns Diamond, the factory and a large section of the cultivation was closed in 1985. The remnants remained COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

operable until 2009 when plans to merge the LBI and Enmore factories made it impractical to retain the remaining Diamond cultivation. However, those workers, unlike Mr Granger’s time in office, had their right to severance respected.

So turning to the Mr Granger’s utterances on the re-opening of estates, we believe, he really should be the last to talk when you consider his record. The former President, prior to assuming office, in an interview on the Caribbean Spotlight programme in March, 2015 had this to say “…we want to save sugar, we want to save the livelihoods of sugar workers…”

Similarly, Mr Granger’s running-mate at the 2020 election, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan at Whim in March, 2015 said “…we are not in any way going to close the sugar industry…” Of course those rosy undertakings were underpinned by promises of 20 per cent wage increase for sugar workers and other pies-in-the-sky.

But we all know what transpired under Mr Granger’s stewardship. Some 7,000 sugar workers were put on the breadline, some of them while Mr Granger was pet-

ting elephants in Kenya. The workers endured a wage freeze while the pay of their colleagues elsewhere in the State went up. Their long-standing benefits such as Annual Production Incentive (API) were suspended and several other benefits disregarded. The industry was stripped of its assets and reduced to cap-in-hand running around begging. Mr Granger Government borrowed $30B for the industry and decided to lock it up while paying interest. The former President ignored a GuySuCo plea for help earlier this year that is until it became public. And worse of all, Mr Granger’s actions towards the industry and disdain for the workers set back the lives of tens of thousands of Guyanese men, women and children.

And, we ask again Mr Granger really wants to talk about ‘fake news’.

The truth of the matter is that Mr Granger was probably the king of fake news. He said one thing and did another. We recall his popular tune about respecting the Constitution as he dragged our nation further down after he lost the No Confidence vote. We have to wonder why the

former ‘unbothered’ President is so bothered about the re-opening of the estates.

He wasn’t bothered when he closed them and shoved the people onto the breadline.

He certainly wasn’t bothered when he disrespected their right to severance. He clearly wasn’t bothered to even visit these Guyanese to see how they were surviving after he were them made jobless. He didn’t even bother to show any concern when his Government, through NICIL, was charging these ex-workers to fish in the backdams to feed their families.

So why should he be bothered now we ask? We urge him to continue to remain unbothered. He needs to allow those Guyanese to pick up their lives and the dreams he and his Government shattered. He needs to allow these Guyanese to live happy lives, where they can realise their hopes and where they can put food on their tables, where they can pay their bills, and where they can make a positive contribution to our great land.

PAGE NINE

2020 Budget pro-poor and pro-people – FITUG

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has carefully examined the 2020 National Budget which was presented on September 09, 2020. With the budget debates commencing, giving all Guyanese a chance to learn of what the Government has in store for them, the Federation recognises that the Budget is geared to improve the well-being of all Guyanese. Indeed, we see the first Budget of the Irfaan Ali Administration starting on a good footing as it reverses many of the draconian measures that were implemented by the former Coalition Government.

Indeed, we hold that Guyanese have much to look forward to and to be pleased about. No longer hangs over our collective heads the axe of VAT on our consumption of electricity and water. No longer do we have to pay taxes on medicine, private healthcare or to pursue private education. No longer are our farmers expected to pay taxes on inputs which ought to redound positively to the cost of food. Similarly, we see provisions made to offer relief to Guyanese families arising from COVID-19 while our school children will benefit from increased uniform allowances and the reinstitution of the education grant which was withdrawn by the previous Government. Our pensioners have much to be excited about as well as they will benefit from higher old aged pensions, and free water supply. All in all, we were heartened to learn that as much as twenty billion dollars will be aggregately put into the pockets of the Guyanese people. This is a massive windfall for our people and one we are sure they desperately need.

We recognise too that the new Government was caught between a rock and a hard place with tens of billions spent or committed even prior to its assumption to office. This undoubtedly must have COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

caused the incumbent Administration to temper its basket of goodies it wished to deliver to the Guyanese people. Of course, we believe, the Guyanese people deserve more. Many workers had anticipated an increase in the tax threshold. While we know the Government undoubtedly wanted to do and to give more, it had to contend with the bad hand it was dealt.

The Budget also provided an indication of how our economy was mismanaged during the term of the previous Government. The Coalition spent over $1.2T during its lifetime, which it collected from the sweat of the Guyanese people.

It causes us to wonder where our hardearned monies went, and what value did the Guyanese people get. From all indications, large sums were used to fatten the former elites and find jobs for the boys and girls. Significant sums apparently were also wastefully utilised as we see the monstrosity of Durban Park and the new COVID hospital, where hundreds of millions more had to be earmarked. Apart from that millions, if not billions, went to supportive individuals and enterprises.

How can we forget the drug bond or the multi-billion settlement on the appearance of a letter?

FITUG recognises that there is a great deal of work to be done and much to achieve, but recognises the Administration has begun on a positive footing. Certainly, careful examination is required, as the new Government must untangle the many messes it inherited as it continues in its thrust to deliver development to the people. We believe that the Budget has made a concerted effort to touch the life of every Guyanese man, woman and child. This is a welcome effort, especially given the heartlessness which prevailed before. It is in this regard that we hold Budget 2020 as pro-poor and pro-people.

Cane fields next door to Blairmont Manager house in an atrocious condition

Canes overrun with vines and weeds at Blairmont Estate. Worse yet the canes are located adjacent to the Estate Manager’s residence, and is worrying if canes in the manager’s eyesite are allowed to be in such condition

Following the Union’s statement on the low levels of sugar production expected, several workers of Blairmont Estate contacted the GAWU to draw our attention to the conditions of cane fields at that estate. The workers shared with the Union pictures of the cane fields that are located just adjacent to the Estate Manager’s residence, which indicated that those fields were heavily infested with grass and vines and a dearth of canes.

The workers explained to GAWU that there are several fields in the cultivation which mimic the fields depicted. They expressed deep concern that the estate’s performance, continues to decline.

Workers are one of the usual scapegoats for poor performance but as the images depict, clearly, at Blairmont, there is an urgent need for intervention to correct the poor agronomic practices which are deleteriously affecting the estate. Moreover, it is worrying that if these are the conditions of the fields within the Manager’s eyesight, we have to wonder what about those further away. Rationally, we would think that the Management would seek to obscure any failures and ensure that the fields are easily seen in tip top condition. Even this window dressing exercise apparently has faltered. It was only on September 03 that we drew attention to the lethargy that has and is currently

plaguing the sugar company.

As we examined the images and listened to the workers’ concerns, it caused us to have doubts about whether the cane yields being reported are indeed accurate, and if there are attempts to engage in obfuscation. We hope this is not the case, and at least there is integrity in the reporting. Over the last few years, our Union has been locked out from visiting estate cultivations as we previously did.

Our previous visits, we hold, were useful and allowed areas which required attention to benefit from the necessary work.

However, after the Coalition took office, the workers and their organizations were identified as an enemy, rather than a partner, and our principled concerns were ignored, maybe with devious intent in mind.

As we have been observing, the situation is serious, and the functioning of the Corporation’s leadership must be placed under the microscope. We nevertheless are heartened that the new Government has indicated its commitment to resuscitating the sugar industry. This is a positive step, and the GAWU will play a proactive role. We look forward to the strengthening and rebuilding of our relations with the sugar company, as we all have a vested interest in the success of the industry.

PAGE TEN

GAWU and NAACIE engage FITUG welcomes re-establishment of Labour Ministry Agriculture Minister

Officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), which represent the majority of the unionized workforce in the sugar industry on September 02 engaged Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and the Ministry’s Director-General, Madanlall Ricky Ramraj, on a wide range of matters.

The Minister, in commencing the engagement, commented that he had roots in the trade union movement having been associated with the GAWU for many years, and he was pleased to have the opportunity to meet the workers organizations. He shared that he held workers in high esteem, as he recognized their manifold contributions at the workplace as well as at the community, regional and national levels.

High on the agenda was the state of the sugar industry and the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo). Both Unions expressed their deep apprehensions as they lamented the decline witnessed over the last few years.

The Minister shared that he understood the frustrations of the Unions and the workers. He noted that over the years, during his interactions with workers, he heard the horror stories of what took place and could not help but be in a state of disbelief.

Minister Mustapha noted that it was against this background that he took up the role as Minister and though he has been in the post for a short period he has sought to bring some alleviation to the pains faced by the sugar industry as he pointed to the recent release of $600M to assist GuySuCo in the short term. The Unions welcomed this measure as we pointed to several important considerations that should be taken on board to staunch the industry’s decline.

Turning to the closed estates, the Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to re-open the closed Skeldon, Rose COMBAT Jul-Sept, 2020

Hall and Enmore Estates. He shared that at Wales the factory has largely been cannibalized as its parts were sent to be used in the operable estates. Of course, this contradicts the Coalition which said that the Wales factory was old advancing that contention as one of the justifications for that estate’s closure at the end of 2016.

The Agriculture Minister shared with GAWU and NAACIE that a conditional survey has been undertaken by a joint GuySuCo/NICIL team and their report is presently being prepared. He committed to sharing with the Unions a copy of that report for their information and comments. Both GAWU and NAACIE expressed their pleasure of the estates re-opening and shared their desire to play an active role in the process. At Wales, both Unions pointed out to the need to the establishment of some economic activity to remove the depressive climate that has descended since closure almost four (4) years ago. On this score, the Minister said that the Government is actively considering several models to breathe new life into the section of the country and for the thousands who depended on the Wales Estate.

The Minister shared that he saw the Unions and the workers as partners and his door was open for both sides to discuss and share their thoughts and ideas.

The Unions also used the opportunity to raise matters related to several agencies under the Minister’s portfolio. The Minister has promised to look into those issues. Both Unions felt that the engagement was cordial and the Minister was most receptive. Indeed, it is a reset from the cold shoulder that former Minister Noel Holder showed the Unions who not even once during his stint reached out or engaged the GAWU and/or NAACIE. We are hopeful that this new beginning will bring all-round prosperity and development to those connected to the sector as we hold agriculture will continue to play a critical role in our country for years to come.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is indeed pleased with the decision of His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s decision to re-establish the Ministry of Labour. The re-establishment of a fullfledged Labour Ministry, we hold, is a significant win for the nation’s workers whose rights, concerns and well-being were largely sidelined during the stint of the Coalition.

Our Federation, among others, had expressed its strong criticism as it regarded the demotion of the former Ministry to a Department. That demotion coincided with an almost lethargic functioning of the now former Labour Department.

We are nevertheless optimistic that a new page has been turned and the Ministry will be revitalized in the interest of our

nation’s workers who, in our view, are our nation’s most critical asset. The FITUG, at this time, looks forward to working with Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton who, through media reports, has commitment to ensuring our labour force reaches full capacity.

We also, at this time, take the opportunity to congratulate the new Ministers of Government. Indeed, the diverse grouping would bring new energy to the Government and State as they push the development agenda which undoubtedly is aimed at improving the well-being and standard-of-living of all Guyanese. The FITUG looks forward to working with our new Ministers as we seek to play our role in promoting all-round progress and development.

GAWU, GLU and CCWU ink pay pact with DDL Through joint negotiations between the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), workers in the respective union bargaining units are benefitting from improved pay and other conditions-of-work.

For several rounds of negotiations, the three (3) unions have been jointly engaging the Company at the negotiating table and through those discussions a number of multi-year agreements were reached.

The latest pact which regards this year only will see workers receiving pay rises between five (5) and seven (7) per cent from January 01, this year. Workers increases are based on their performance which is evaluated by the Company. The agreement provides a mechanism whereby unsatisfied workers could approach the Union and for another evaluation to be conducted to determine their performance and thus rise-in-pay. Apart from pay hikes, the Unions and the Company reached agreement on improved rates of meals allowance, overtime rates, premi-

um rates and leave passage assistance.

The Unions and the Company commenced discussions earlier this year but these were thwarted by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. While faceto-face engagements were hamstrung, the discussions continued which led to agreement being reached. The workers are most pleased with the agreement and look forward to receiving their retroactive payments.

The GAWU, for its part, is also pleased that an agreement could be reached and looks forward to engagements a bit later with the Company as discussions begin to focus on our next agreement.

The GAWU, as a responsible union, continues to stand by and with its members in this difficult time. It continues to engage employers regarding their employees’ health and well-being at the workplace while ensuring adequate and appropriate protections are provided. We are hopeful in the coming weeks to engage other employers regarding improvements in conditions-of-work.

PAGE ELEVEN

Farewell, Cde Komal - a tribute by GAWU General Secretary, Cde Seepaul Narine

We are gathered here this morning to pay homage and final respects to Comrade Komal Chand, who was the President of our Union for many years. On behalf of the members of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, and on my own behalf, I extend our sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends and comrades. Komal Chand was a friend, a trusted advisor and a comrade in every sense of the word. He often looked out for us; offered advice and guidance and, provided the opportunity for us to educate ourselves.

For the thousands of GAWU members, he was embraced as their leader, who led them to several victories as they faced many struggles. He was a skilled organizer and a fighter of formidable strengths and abilities. Personally and on behalf of the GAWU, I feel especially honoured to be part of today’s proceedings to pay tribute to our leader, a distinguished son of the soil, this extraordinary figure who, for nearly half a century, stood with the workers and the downtrodden of our country.

For me, during this time, many things about Comrade Komal come to mind. This is unavoidable because he had a profound influence on my life during my 35 years of close association with him, accepting his guidance and leadership. I learnt a great deal from his teachings and our interaction. I was alongside him in several battles. We shared many anxious moments in difficult, if not challenging, moments we were involved with other colleagues in numerous campaigns around issues for the betterment of the working people. Always we discussed collectively issues to hammer our clear and correct positions that allowed our Union the ability to outmanoeuvre employers.

An important lesson learned from Cde Komal is that:we cannot count our victories if we don’t take on challenges and struggles.

Comrade Komal Chand joined GAWU in 1975 as the Union’s struggle for recognition reached a high point.

That time as Organising Secretary of the Union, he undoubtedly played a critical role as the then nearly-threedecades-long struggle being waged by the sugar workers was reaching a high point. That year was indeed a watershed year, as sugar workers downed tools for several weeks, demanding that GAWU becomes their bargaining agent. The fever pitch that was reached saw the then Government relenting at last and approving a poll which was held on December 31, 1975. Through the poll, the Union demonstrated that it enjoyed the overwhelming support of the sugar workers. Indeed, it must have been a proud moment for Cde Komal, who was among those who appended the historic Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement on February 27, 1976, with the now GuySuCo. From that time until the end of his life, Comrade Komal served the GAWU and its members selflessly, with undying commitment. It was those attributes that saw him rising through the ranks of the Union to become General Secretary and, finally, President. I knew that he truly loved GAWU and believed in the workers. On many occasions, he spent long hours addressing issues affecting workers; and, undoubtedly, those efforts contributed to the Union growing from strength to strength.

Comrade Komal was outstanding on many fronts, and this certainly served him well during his lifetime as he was decorated with the National Award of CCH. He upheld the spirit of collectivity, as he believed everyone could make a contribution and that their views were important. For many of us in the Union, he was a source of encouragement, though at times he would be rough, and passionately call on us to do better and improve ourselves. I remember him saying to staff members: “Do well, so that if you have to go somewhere else, you must

be better than others”.

Cde Komal’s life was inextricably linked to the struggles of workers in the sugar industry, who historically challenged the plantocracy, a vivid symbol of colonial oppression. That apart, I remember being side by side with him in other struggles to expand the Union into Distilleries, Forestry, Rice, Fisheries, National Parks, Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Berbice River Bridge among other places.

Comrade Komal was also a keen follower of international affairs. Through his activism in this arena, he developed many close contacts and established links with comrades in several parts of the world. His internationalist outlook saw him, naturally, speaking on behalf of the workers of the world. He was a member of the Presidential Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), and from that forum he advocated for improvement of workers beyond the shore of Guyana.

We are well aware of his rich legacy to this nation and to the workers. However, the heart of this great man has been stilled; it throbs no more. We are engulfed with grief, the atmosphere is heavy with sorrow, the pain over this loss goes deep. As he departs physically from our midst, the words of Nelson Mandela appropriately comes to mind: “When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace.”

Farewell Comrade Komal! Rest In Peace.

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: INFO@GAWUGY.COM WEBSITE: WWW.GAWUGY.COM