Combat - November/December, 2019

Issue #6 Volume #40

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

Editorial:

The will of the people The dawning of the New Year will almost immediately see the nation being gripped by the campaign for National and Regional Elections. With nominations day slated for January 10, 2020, the various political organizations will make known their slate of candidates, and campaigning will begin in earnest. While it is recognised that active campaigning has already begun, electioneering will kick into high gear, and our people’s support will be sought.

November/December, 2019

Sugar production this year under 100,000 tonnes - lowest production in the history of GuySuCo

Though it appears, at least so far, that elections plans are on track, several unanswered questions persist. At the time of preparing this editorial, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) had yet to conclusively address how it would handle information it obtained through the truncated house-to-house (HTH) registration exercise.

Media reports have informed that some 370,000 persons took part in the HTH process. It is said that as many as 60,000 persons registered have been deemed new registrants. Of course, the sanctity of conclusion has come into question that 17,000 of the 60,000 new registrants have been found to be among the extant voters. For us the touted figure of 60,000 is suspect, bearing in mind birth trends in our country as well as several successive rounds of continuous registration over the years. The fact that over a quarter of the new registrants have been incorrectly labelled brings the contentions process even into more disrepute.

The basis for the determination of the new registrants, we have learnt, has been the matching of finger prints collected through the HTH with those already contained in GECOM’s database. The new finger prints were manually obtained, which in itself poses several problems. Whether there was sufficient pressure applied to ensure a proper transfer of the fingerprint, for instance, is an issue. Similarly, whether the fingers were properly placed on the collection sheet can also pose a challenge.

We also heard about concerns regarding whether all the finger prints collected for an individual really and genuinely belonged to that individual.

For its part, the Opposition said that its own checks revealed that some newly registered persons do not exist at the addresses they were registered at. This casts even more doubt on the accuracy of the process. We are aware that a request was made to the elections body for a re-checking of the ‘new’ registrants. It is not clear whether this request was positively considered. This again brings into question the sanctity of the exercise.

Apart from concerns regarding the HTH, we saw during the Claims and Objections period what appeared to be a concerted attempt to strike legitimate voters off the list.

Continued on page two (2) COMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

Sugar production this year will not reach 100,000 tonnes, and will be the lowest production of GuySuCo in its now 43-year history. In fact, when we checked our records, which go back to 1940, it is the lowest production ever. During the year, our Union too, on several occasions, expressed concern about the level of production. With production coming to an end, it is apparent that the sugar corporation will not even be able to realize the revised production we had estimated. It is an unfortunate turn of events for the industry, which has the possibilities to record much higher levels of production.

Information obtained by the GAWU details that sugar production as at December 21 was as follows:Estate

Year to Year Variance Date Target Albion 46,561 58,054 (11,493) Blairmont 25,261 31,239 (5,978) Uitvlugt 22,269 20,413 1,856 Total 93,288 109,706 (15,618) The production, especially in the second crop, was af-

fected by the poor reliability of the industry’s factories.

Apart from the non-achievement of the target, large quantities of canes earmarked to be harvested will have to be carried over into the first crop of 2020. At Albion, some 950 hectares of canes are expected to be unharvested; at Blairmont, nearly 615 hectares are estimated to be left back; and at Uitvlugt, 135 hectares were not harvested. By the time the canes are harvested next year they will be over-mature. Apart from less sugar content, such canes are more problematic to harvest, and could well present challenges to the workers next year. It is disturbing that the industry would have expended large sums to tend these canes with an expectation of high results in sugar, but will now find itself in a situation whereby there will be lower returns than anticipated.

Regarding the breakdown of the factories, we need to recall that $30B has been borrowed in GuySuCo’s name to address this very issue, among other things. For the GAWU, it appears that, while the grass grows the horse is starving. We further note that the breakdowns are occurring when a number of retired personnel had been recruited, which makes us wonder whether they are up to their responsibilities.

PAGE ONE

DTL’s attitude unbecoming

During the year, we continued to address the attitude of the foreign-owned Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL), which is refusing to engage our Union in the process of Collective Bargaining. For some time now, the Company’s Management has been unwilling to engage the GAWU in face-to-face meetings, opting to restrict our relations to correspondences. Our Union has pointed out that Collective Bargaining necessitates such engagements, in order for matters to be addressed in a full and frank matter. We have found the Company’s attitude to be most disrespectful, and it has even refused to attend meetings summoned by the Department of Labour. The Company’s behaviour, apart from being unbecoming, is also unlawful. Our laws have clearly pointed to the need for Collective Bargaining between recognised unions and companies.

We have drawn the Company’s de-

meanour to the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB) which, among other things, is charged with upholding the Trade Union Recognition Act, which speaks to the requirement of Collective Bargaining. The TURCB has considered that GAWU’s submission is proper, and has agreed that the Company should be made to comply with the laws. The matter, which has been referred to the Attorney General (AG) Chambers for some time now, is yet to be pursued. It is disappointing that the rights of the workers are being disregarded, and though the law is on their side, it appears there is no impetus for appropriate action. Certainly, no Government should allow any enterprise – local or foreign – to be disrespectful to its people and their rights.

While the GAWU will continue to actively follow up this matter, we are also mulling other steps we could take.

SEI in breach of the law Earlier this year, the GAWU was deemed as the bargaining agent on behalf of the workers of Skeldon Energy Inc (SEI). The Company, which is charged with the operation of the Skeldon Estate power plant, employs approximately 100 persons. Following our certification, we informed the Company about our status and sent an appropriate draft agreement which could form the basis for discussions to formalize our relations. The Company neither responded nor even acknowledged our correspondence. We again reminded the SEI of our status, and our latter correspondence was acknowledged, but the situation remained unchanged.

As a result of the state-owned company’s attitude, we again sought the intervention of the TURCB to address the matter. We understand that the Company also wrote the TURCB, and an ap-

propriate response was to be sent by the TURCB. Separately, our Union, through our Attorney-at-Law, has written to the Company to point out that its refusal to engage us is not in keeping with the law. The Company did pen a response, and our attorney is awaiting certain information before further action is taken.

For us, it is disappointing that a Company owned by the State is refusing to allow its workers to become unionized.

We understand that one of the senior officials of the Company had threatened the workers on the matter. It is sad that, after so many years of fighting for the right to join unions, workers are being intimidated when they exercise their constitutional rights. The fact that such behaviour exists in this 21st Century is appalling, and brings into question whether certain employers are a throwback to a dark past.

The will of the people GAWU Credit Union distributes $14M to members Continued from page one (1)

While many of the requests were ultimately denied after the objectors failed to demonstrate the validity of their claim, it brings into question what such approaches were pursued for in the first place. Certainly, it seems completely amiss that such lengths would be gone to in an effort to prevent properly qualified voters from exercising their franchise.

Another area of concern regards the removal of persons who did not uplift their National Identification Cards. Again, attempts were made to remove such persons because they failed to uplift their ID cards. While we urge those who failed in their duty to collect their ID cards to do so now, it still should not be the basis to remove persons from the list of voters. Our electoral laws are actually very explicit on the grounds for removal, yet it appears that all sorts of rationales are invented and injected without any legal basis.

It should not be lost on us that the last elections were decided by a margin of a few thousand votes. This is noteworthy, bearing in mind the very many and very real concerns that Guyanese have about the electoral process at this time. While commitments of free and fair elections abound and can be seen as an attempt to bring solace, there are still too many issues that remain unresolved. Undoubtedly, given the serious concerns regarding the HTH exercise, the data really should be disregarded. Indeed, several attempts have been pursued to ensure that all qualified voters have a chance to be counted on the voters list.

The right of franchise ranks among the most cherished rights of our citizens. It is through this right that they are allowed to have a decisive say in the direction of our nation and the well-being of our people. This right was not freely given, but won out of bitter and sustained struggles. We owe it to those who struggle for this right to ensure that it is upheld and the will of the people is properly reflected, and not tainted in any way. Undoubtedly, given our sordid past of electoral malpractice and the struggles waged to bring our nation back onto democratic ground, we cannot stand idly and allow our nation to roll back into those troubled times.

COMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

bers for transactions conducted during 2017. In other words, members are receiving back nearly onefifth of what they paid to the Credit Union as interest during 2017, and 3. The sum of $78,330 was allocated to the Society’s Social and Entertainment Fund for the year 2017.

The GAWU Credit Union on December 15 held its 25th Annual General Meeting, which saw some 70 members in attendance. The operations and membership of the Credit Union have been affected in recent years following the haphazard minimization of the sugar industry, which has seen thousands of workers being rendered jobless. The Society’s Secretary, Cde Sattie Basdeo, who presented the report of the Committee of Management, disclosed that despite the setbacks, the Society recorded another successful year of operation and that a surplus of $22,254,706 was realized.

The Society, in keeping with the Co-operatives Act, was required to allocate twenty (20) per cent of its surplus which is equivalent to $4,450,941, to its Statutory Reserve Fund for 2017. Also, the Credit Union statutorily was required to allocate five (5) per cent of its surplus to its Education Fund, which saw the sum of $1,112,735 being allocated With unanimity, the AGM approved the following resolutions:1. A three (3) per cent dividend on members’ ordinary savings balances at the end of 2017. The dividend will see members sharing $11.654,641; 2. An eighteen (18) per cent interest rebate to mem-

The AGM elected a new Committee of Management to superintend the Society’s operations until its 26th AGM. The Committee comprises Cdes Gaietri Baron, Sattie Basdeo, Seepaul Narine, Julius Nurse, Bhikram Singh, Harvey Tambron, and Aslim Singh. At the first meeting of the Management Committee, expectedly within the next two (2) weeks, members of the Committee will elect a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

The Supervisory Committee comprising Cdes Kavita Bishun, Nykesia Rodney and Khemraj Pitamber was also elected.

The Credit Union continues to play an important role in allowing members of the Union to have some form of savings. Apart from that significant value, the Society’s returns over the years have been in excess of what is earned from the commercial financial institutions.

Moreover, unlike the commercial institutions, dividends and interest rebate are exempted from taxes, thus further enhancing members’ gains.

The GAWU remains proud that it is able to continue to provide this service to its membership. Our members have shared that they have found the Credit Union to be invaluable, and have been very helpful when they may require assistance in time of need or want. The Union and the membership are also proud of the Society’s accountability and transparency, which continues to be examined by external personnel appointed by the Co-operative Department of the Ministry of Social Protection.

PAGE TWO

Struggle of Noble House workers continuing

During the year, another arena of struggle by the Union and the workers ensued with the Noble House Seafoods Limited (NHSL) regarding a pay rise to its workers. The Company, which employs some 250 persons - mainly females - in the processing of seabob destined mainly for export has been contending that it cannot afford to grant any pay rise to its workers.

Following the expiration of our last C o l lective Labour Agreement (CLA) i n March, 2018, t h e Un i o n and the Company have been engaged in discussions regarding improvement in pay and other conditions of work. The Management of the Company continued to insist that it was recording losses and thus the situation prevented any pay improvement. Our Union continued to pursue the matter, and eventually sought the

assistance of the Department of Labour with the hope of bringing the parties to an amicable agreement. Initial discussions at the level of the Labour Department saw the company agreeing to share its financial information with the Union to substantiate its position. The GAWU and the NHSL also agreed to resume discussions at the bilateral level following the disclosure of the new information.

With the Company’s financial data at our disposal, our Union combed through the numbers and made some interesting discoveries.

When the Union presented its findings to the Company and sought to convince NHSL that a pay rise was possible the Company remained unmoved. The adamancy of the Company saw the workers downing tools to protest the attitude of the Company towards the negotiations. The workers were also upset that the employment of one of their shop stewards was terminated by NHSL after an incident with a senior manager. Following several days of protest action,

Terms of Resumption were reached, and the workers returned to work. Resulting from the agreement, the dispute was once again being addressed at the level of the Department of Labour. Our Union reiterated its position, while the Company presented additional information in an effort to bolster its contentions. The GAWU again carefully analysed the data and demonstrated that a pay rise was not out of its realm.

After some back and forth, the Company proposed a certain pay rise. This was not deemed acceptable by the Union and the workers. Further discussion, and with the assistance of the Labour Department, the Company upped its offer. We have shared with the workers the Company’s latest position, and they have asked us to re-engage the NHSL on the matter. While there have been some positive steps, and this encourages the belief that an agreement is within reach, such an outcome is ultimately up to the Management and its shareholders. We are hopeful of an agreement in the interest of all concerned.

DHBC job evaluation held up - GAWU considering further action

The Union, this year, continued to press for the completion of a long-outstanding job evaluation exercise for the employees it represents at the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC). Our Union, during the 2016 round of negotiations, proposed to the Management that a joint Union/Management job evaluation exercise be conducted. Following consideration, the DHCB’s Management and Board of Directors approved the exercise.

As a result of agreement reached, the Corporation employed the services of an HR Consultant who, among other things, was charged with assisting the evaluation process. The Consultant, who began work in 2017, addressed some other areas of its work before turning attention to the evaluation process. Our Union, during this time, was actively representing that the COMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

process commence, recognising that the workers were eager to have it completed.

The evaluation began to pick up steam during 2018. During that process, there were visits and interactions with the workers to get a better understanding of the responsibilities and requirements for each job. After many man hours of work, job descriptions for the unionized categories of workers were completed around October, 2018. It was agreed that focus would move to the non-unionised jobs and then the process would be wrapped up. Of course our Union not speaking on behalf of the non-unionised employees was not included in those deliberations.

Recognising the time was elapsing, the Union wrote the Management of the DHBC to enquire about the status of the process, as we and the workers were

anxious to have the process completed.

No responses were received to our correspondences. Subsequently, a number of workers petitioned the Management on the matter. Following receipt of the petition, the Management, together with the consultant, met the Union and the shop stewards and committed to sharing copies of the completed job descriptions and the new proposed salary bands. The proposed salary bands were to be negotiated between the Union and the Corporation.

A few weeks after, the Management did share the job descriptions but the salary bands were absent. We immediately wrote the Company querying the non-submission. On several occasions, we reminded the DHBC about the outstanding information, but the Corporation remained adamant in denying us the information.

Having not received an answer from the Management, and in the absence of a Board now for almost two (2) years, we wrote Minister of Public Infrastructure,

David Patterson, on the matter. He did not acknowledge our correspondence.

We subsequently wrote Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, who agreed to meet with us. We shared with Minister Sharma all the details regarding the matter, and later, in writing, shared our explanations. Since then, we have not heard from Minister Sharma either, and we intend to once again engage him on the matter.

After a prolonged delay, the DHBC General Manager responded a few weeks ago, to say that our Union was not entitled to the salary band information. Indeed, the Manager’s response was surprising, as we were an active participant in the process and thus have a vested interest. We have since responded to the DHBC on the matter, and so far we are yet to hear from them. Obviously, this matter will be pursued diligently by our Union.

TURCB not functioning - another setback for our workers The GAWU is very concerned about the functioning of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURCB).

The Board is charged with considering applications by Unions seeking to obtain bargaining rights for workers, among other things. For two (2) months now, no meetings have been convened owing to the absence of the Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette La Bennett. We have learnt that the chairperson is ill,

thus rendering the board non-functional. Our Union believes that in the absence of the chairperson, the Minister of Social Protection ought to address this matter. Here, the Trade Union Recognition Act spells out what intervention is required by the Minister. We hope that action could be taken, bearing in mind the several outstanding matters currently requiring the Board’s attention.

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3,000 billion dollars into the bottomless pit of Afghanistan rowed money”, the accrued interest has risen to 500 billion, which brings the total expenditure to 2,000 billion dollars. To this must be added other posts – 87 billion for the training of Afghan forces, 54 billion for “reconstruction”, of which a large part was “lost to corruption and failed projects”. At least 10 billion more were spent for the “struggle against narco-trafficking”, with the triumphant result of a strong increase in the production of opium – today Afghanistan supplies 80 % of the heroin on the world market.

With the interests which continue to accumulate, (in 2023 they will rise to 600 billion), and the cost of the operations currently underway, expenditure easily overtakes 2,000 billion. We also A school destroyed by the war in Afghanistan. The conflict in that country has seen about 104,000 need to consider the cost of medpeople killed since 2001. More than 31,000 of those killed have been civilians. An additional ical assistance for the veterans re41,000 civilians have been injured since 2001. turning from the war with serious

By Manlio Dinucci they hid its disastrous effects, including or invalidating wounds. So far, 350 the economic effects of a war which has billion dollars have already been spent In the London Declaration, the 29 mem- been dragging on for 18 years. for those who fought in Afghanistan or ber countries of NATO reaffirmed “the The most interesting data that emerge Iraq, and this sum will rise to 1,400 bilengagement for the security and long-term are those concerning the economic costs. lion dollars over the next 40 years. Since stability of Afghanistan”. One week later, 1,500 billion dollars have been spent for half of this sum is spent for veterans of on the basis of the Freedom of Informa- military operations, a figure that “remains Afghanistan, the cost of the war for the tion Act, (used to empty a number of ag- opaque” – or, in other words, underes- US is more than 3,000 billion dollars. ing skeletons out of the closets, according timated – no-one knows how much the After 18 years of war, and an unquanto political necessity), the Washington secret services have spent on the war, or tifiable number of civilian victims, the Post managed to force the declassification the real cost of the contractors, the mer- results at the military level are as follows of 2,000 pages of documents which reveal cenaries recruited for the war (currently – “the Talibans control a major part of the that “US civil servants fooled the public about 6,000). country, and Afghanistan remains one of about the war in Afghanistan”. Basically, Since “the war was financed with bor- the greatest sources of refugees and mi-

grants”. The Washington Post therefore concludes that the declassified documents reveal “the brutal reality of the errors and failures of the American effort to pacify and rebuild Afghanistan”.

In this way, the prestigious news outlet, which explains the way in which US civil servants have “fooled the public”, now fools the public once again by presenting the war as “the American effort to pacify and rebuild Afghanistan”. The true goal of the war in Afghanistan waged by the USA, in which NATO has been participating since 2003, is the control of this region, which is of capital strategic importance – at the crossroads between the Middle East, Central, Southern and Eastern Asia , particularly taking into account the proximity of Russia and China.

Italy is also participating in this war, under US command, since in October 2002 Parliament authorised the delivery of a first military contingent as from March 2003. The cost for Italy, paid from the public treasury, as is the case in the USA, is estimated to be approximately 8 billion Euros, to which must be added various other costs. In order to convince the population, hard hit by cuts in social expenditure, that further sums are necessary for Afghanistan, they are told that the money is used to guarantee better living conditions for the Afghan people. And the Brothers of the Sacro Convento of Assisi handed President Mattarella “San Francesco’s Lamp of Peace”, thereby recognising that “Italy, with its missions and its soldiers, collaborates actively in the promotion of peace everywhere in the world”.

arrangements, which would really render the workers worse off.

Our Union has considered that the reforms of the Macron Government will, among other things, hike the pensionable age as well as increase the number of active years before a worker could receive a full pension. Apart from those changes, workers’ pensions would fall between 10 and 30 per cent. These attempts at undermining social protections, which is also rooted in neo-liberalism, have proven time and time again to be flawed. We unequivocally support the central Trade Unions of France calls for the plans for these pension reforms to be immediately withdrawn.

We, at this time, express our unstinted solidarity and join with the several voices of support to the working class and all the militant sectors of the people of France. We support their struggle against

the French Administration’s anti-workers stance which, in collaboration with the employers stratum, are no doubt seeking to destroy the pension system, the collective agreements, the public services, and the social security system.

We also forthwith denounce the unleashing of the repressive State machinery to violently suppress the just struggles of the workers and their staunch allies. In the conditions of the ongoing crisis in France, as well as other developed countries, an effective aspect of the struggles is our class solidarity which has gained importance in these times. We assure the French working class that we stand on their side in this time of trial and tribulation, and we wish them every success in their struggles.

The GAWU is well aware of the value of solidarity to the working-peoples’ struggles, and indeed, has been the beneficiary of international solidarity in its many struggles for workers’ causes.

GAWU in solidarity with French workers

The GAWU has been following closely the ongoing and widely-supported protests by the workers of France as they seek to rightfully defend any erosion of their gains at this time. Our Union is aware that for many weeks now, thousands of COMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

workers and other segments of the population in that country have staged picketing, marches, demonstrations and other activities across that country to express their strong disagreement and vehement opposition to reforms in France’s pension

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FITUG condemns coup in Bolivia as it welcomes Lula’s release

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) continues to keep a keen eye on developments on our continent, recognizing their implications for our people and, indeed, all peoples of the world. Latin America and the Caribbean, we have recognised, has been a central arena in the ongoing global pursuits for dominance and hegemony. While the entire region was once subjugated by imperial forces and their allies, in recent times, we have seen sustained efforts to break free from the chains of domination and exploitation and to create a world based on justice and equality, respect and fairness. These victories, while laudable, have not been without hitch and we have borne witness to various intrigues and machinations to undermine the several people-centered advancements that have been scored.

One such bastion of progress has been Bolivia. Following the election of Evo Morales in 2006 as President, several noteworthy advancements were recorded. Under Morales, the country has made great strides in economic development, safe guarding national sovereignty, women’s and indigenous rights, respect for the environment, improvement in the people’s standard of living, the improvement in education, and health care. The country’s economy has grown on average by 5 per cent per annum since 2006 as compared to 2.6 per cent between 1951 and 2005, and has seen some two million Bolivians escaping poverty. Even the World Bank has recognized the country as world champion in income growth for the poorest 40 per cent of its population.

The FITUG was therefore deeply disappointed to learn that President Morales, like other like-minded leaders of the Region, has been removed from office by what are clearly undemocratic means. The removal of a democratically elected leader other than by the free will and expresCOMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

sion of the peop l e cann o t withstand a n y litmus test.

The u s e o f lo c a l reactiona r y force s , aided and abetted by external actors, to unleash violence and intimidation to remove a progressive, pro-working people government cannot be condoned. The Federation strongly condemns the coup in Bolivia, and expresses its solidarity with Evo Morales and his party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS).

While disheartened by the obviously backward turn of events in Bolivia, the FITUG, on the other hand, is heartened by the release from incarceration of former Brazilian President Lula Da Silva.

His release after a year-and-a-half in confinement represents a significant victory for the Brazilian downtrodden and dispossessed who scored several gains during the rule of Lula’s Workers Party.

Like Morales, Lula distanced Brazil from the failed neo-liberal policies and championed policies which promoted equality, poverty reduction and social improvement.Brazil’s success under Lula was widely celebrated but earned for himself the chagrin of the ruling classes and their external backers who have become accustomed to their exploitative practices and ways.

It was incredulous, and for us unbelievable, that Lula, who commands such great respect and much admiration by not only millions of his countrymen and women but the downtrodden and democratic forces across the world, has been brazenly hounded by the economic interests, both local and foreign, several sections of the media and the backward section of the military establishment to achieve their economic and political aims which they cannot secure from the ballot box. The FITUG saw those attempts as an ignoble attempt to tarnish and besmirch the proud legacy of President Lula who’s Government and Party implemented policies which lifted millions of Brazilians out of poverty, provided land to the landless and improved his country’s im-

age on the world stage.

We need to recall that the historic developments in South America whereby an anti-imperialist and pro-socialist movement emerged in the early years of the 21st century, and that by the year 2012 several outstanding progressive nationalist leaders had been elected to Government by the South American masses throughout the Region: Hugo Chavez in Venezuela; Evo Morales in Bolivia; Rafael Correa in Ecuador; Nestor and Cristina Kirchner in Argentina; Fernando Lugo Mendez in Paraguay; Lula in Brazil; Jose “Pepe” Mujica in Uruguay; Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua; and, of course, our own Cheddi Jagan in Guyana. These victories, in several ways, supplemented Fidel Castro’s revolutionary Cuba, which had been carrying the banner of internationalism and socialist principles in the Americas and the Caribbean since 1959!

For our region, this was a truly historic development which was an impetus for the steady transformation of the oppressive, exploitative societies foisted on us by the early colonial powers.

This indeed, was a tremendous breakthrough in the progressive, working-class movement for a new social order. The impressive results were there for all to see the millions of people who were lifted out of poverty and the hundreds of new socially uplifting programs and institutions that were birthed in virtually all of the countries in question, but especially in Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua.

Current developments, especially in Bolivia, indicates that local reaction in partnership with international forces, are carrying out a counter offensive. But, their victory can only be a tentative one. The people’s will and the democratic forces will prevail. They have history on their side.

FITUG expresses solidarity with President Evo Morales and the democratic forces of Bolivia even as we condemn forthwith the coup.

FITUG also expresses its satisfaction its joy and welcomes the release of iconic Latin American/Brazilian leader, Cde Lula da Silva.

Jeremy Corbyn on the 2019 UK election - a society for the many, not the few

This result is deeply disappointing for everyone who so desperately needed real change in our country. I want to thank everyone who campaigned and every single person who voted for the Labour Party.

As leader, I take full responsibility for the result. We must now take time to reflect on what has happened to listen and to understand. The attacks on us from some in the media have been more ferocious than we’ve ever known. But I’m proud that no matter how low our opponents went we refused to join them in the gutter. I’m proud that ours was a people powered campaign not bankrolled by billionaires.

And I’m proud that our message was one of hope rather than fear. Ultimately, the divisions in our country over Brexit were too great for us to overcome in this election but as the 2017 election showed our programme is popular, ending austerity, protecting our National Health Service, investing in communities and tackling the climate crisis through a Green Industrial Revolu-

tion. I’m proud that our movement has created a new political mainstream one that is firmly anti-austerity and supports public ownership which has inspired millions of people to engage in politics for the first time.

Make no mistake, Labour is the greatest force for progressive change this country has ever known. And though this wasn’t our moment, our time will come.

Because over the past four years we’ve built a new movement which isn’t going away. So to those who feel disheartened and feel like giving up, I say stay and fight for a better society.

And to those who haven’t yet joined us, join the Labour Party today.

Be part of the resistance to Boris Johnson and the politics of fear. This starts now. Campaigning to protect our communities, our National Health Service and public services must be relentless. So that when elections come, we’ll be bigger and stronger. We will win. We will unite our Country. We will build a society for the many, not the few.

PAGE FIVE

Uitvlugt Estate throwing away millions of dollars in unprocessed canes

A field containing unharvested canes which were not sent to the factory for processing

The GAWU has learnt from concerned workers of Uitvlugt Estate that tonnes of harvested canes are left in the field to deteriorate rather than taken to the factory for processing into sugar. The situation is occurring in fields where the canes are loaded by mechanical cane loaders more popularly known as Bell Loaders. According to the information we received, piles of canes which should be heaped into bundles for the loader to load into punt are just being left to rot in the fields.

When canes are harvested for mechanical loading, workers would cut and heap the canes in order for the machine to grab and load into the punts. As the loading of the heaps continue it reaches a point whereby the machine could no longer grab the dwindling heap at least without destroying the fields and sending muddy canes to the factory which presents its own problems.

To circumvent this issue, the industry has employed a process of scrapping whereby a group of workers would work alongside the cane loaders to gather smaller sized heaps into larger ones for the canes to be loaded by the machine.

However at Uitvlugt Estate, for some weeks now, strangely, the scrapping of canes has been discontinued. As a result of this unusual decision, tonnes of canes are harvested but not processed into sugar. From the pictures we have attached, it clearly depicts the large quantities of canes being left in the fields. The workers have shared with us they estimate that approximately 20 tonnes of canes are being left in the fields in where canes are loaded by machines. Hundreds of fields are today benefitting from machine loaded canes which operation lends to higher level of productivity and efficiency. However, what is now taking place, in effect, means that the estate, by such actions at COMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

Uitvlugt, are costing the sugar industry much in monetary terms, at a time, when every cent is needed. If such a practice goes on elsewhere, in all likelihood, millions will go down the drain.

What is even worse is that workers had drawn this practice to the attention of the Management without any effect it appears. Unbelievably, one manager is said to have told the workers they should not be bothered about that. If this is true, it is a most incredulous statement coming from a senior official of the estate. The literal abandonment of fully matured harvested canes in the fields is worrying considering that the Corporation would have utilized its scarce resources to nurture the canes to maturity; to pay workers to harvest them then only to leave them to be disintegrated without any economic return whatsoever. Even cake shops, in our view, are better run.

The GAWU understands one possible reason for the large quantities of canes being left behind relates to a shortage of punts. It is disconcerting that punts are needed when the NICIL-SPU has hundreds of punts deteriorating by the day at the estates under its control. Even the monies which could be used to construct more punts are locked away by NICILSPU though interest is accruing to the investors while the GuySuCo is starved.

On this matter, President David Granger had said since June that he would address the release of the monies. It appears that the President’s intervention, if it did occur, has not led to any resolution. In the meantime, the workers are shortchanged as they are told the sugar company cannot afford a pay rise to them while inefficient and ineffective leadership is costing large sums to the industry and more so the workers.

Security forces suppress sugar workers right of expression

Protesting sugar workers were forced into a narrow muddy area due to police restrictions

The GAWU was seriously concerned about what appeared to be the security apparatus being used to suppress the citizens’ freedom of expression. During a picketing exercise involving sugar workers and union officials outside the Ministry of the Presidency on December 03, 2019, members of the Guyana Police Force imposed several restrictions, which in our view, were aimed mainly at stilling the workers slogans and cries.

At the commencement of the exercise, the protestors assembled on the western side of Vlissengen Road, directly in front of the President’s office. For many years, protestors were allowed to gather there and to express their views without being intimidated or being asked to remove.

However, yesterday, within minutes of our gathering up, a police vehicle arrived on the scene and several officers required us to remove from the parapet in front of the President’s office. The officers shared that it was a security precaution though we posed no threat to life, limb or property and were peacefully demonstrating.

We had to wonder whether the Force responds to calls from citizens with such swiftness.

We were then forced onto the eastern side of Vlissengen Road. Our assembly there came with several restrictions. The officers demanded that we remain behind the eastern-most lane marker. As a result, the protestors were confined to the rain-soaked, muddied, narrow parapet in front of the trench that runs parallel to the Castellani House. In fact, at one time, the police grabbed a worker by his shirt and threatened to arrest him if he stepped beyond the lane marker.

The restriction was imposed though it was possible for the Police to restrict traffic on one of the two lanes of the eastern carriageway of Vlissengen Road. In fact,

we heard one officer suggesting this to the senior rank on the scene, but this suggestion was obviously ignored. What was interesting is that a junior rank was placed in the carriageway to prevent traffic from utilizing some section of the lane, but the picketers were told to remain in the muddied area. Apart from that, a contingent of Police men and women took up strategic positions. At one time, a police bus brought several policemen to the scene.

Later a truck carrying several metal barricades arrived, seemingly, with the intent to place further restriction.

We believe that the intention of the restriction was intended to minimize the visibility of the workers’ protest. Obviously, the protest must have been seen as an embarrassment to some and must have gotten under the not-so-thick skin of some in power. Their reaction, we believe, was manifested through the security forces. The officers on the scene indicated that their actions were intended to maintain the flow of traffic, a situation, as we pointed out, could have been addressed without much disruption. We must say we take the officers’ explanation with a pinch of salt. Certainly, if the police are so concerned about traffic, then the large blockades we see being erected whenever the President is present at venues would not have been erected in the first place. Those blockages, we remind, sometimes extend into several streets, and apart from being a major inconvenience, are severely disruptive.

The situation has caused our Union to wonder whether we are now in a Police State, where the rights and freedoms of citizens will be disregarded and the security apparatus will be used to quell dissenting voices and actions.

PAGE SIX

Why is Govt mortally afraid of estate re-opening?

The Granger ‘caretaker’ Administration have launched a campaign to criticize and denounce commitments to re-open the Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates. In furthering their efforts, it appears to us, that the Government is prepared to descend to lowest depths and to peddle clear falsehoods in what could be seen as a sordid effort to discredit such a laudable advocacy.

Of course the sugar workers, their families, their communities and their plight have never really been sympathetically addressed by our now-a-days Governmental leaders. Indeed, they have treated this group of Guyanese with utter contempt. It seems to be that the Coalition despises the sugar belt so much so that, seemingly, everything and anything will be furthered to trample on the well-being of those who are situated in the belt.

For us, it is clear that the entire sugar policy of the Government was done with one intention:- to punish the sugar workers, their families and their villages. The obviously glaring question is why? What have these people done to the big-wigs in the Government to be treated the way they are? What perceived crime did they commit to have one injustice after another perpetuated on them? Of course, the closest and clearest answer we believe came from Prime Ministerial hopeful and current Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The erstwhile gentleman, according to a December 07, 2018 DPI report, in addressing the Opposition, let the cat out of the bag when he said “[y]ou wanted to employ your people because you are very strong in the sugar estate areas. It was jobs for the boys... so please don’t play to your base that we are the ones who are discriminating.” Mr Ramjattan’s utterances are similar to that unreleased, possible ducked, White Paper on Sugar, which said that “[m]ost of the employees of GuySuCo are supporters of the Opposition political party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).” The reality, it appears, is that Government’s policy has no basis other than partisan politics. It is that crude way of thinking that is on display once again as the Government fights tooth and nail to denigrate just the suggestion of the re-opening of closed estates.

The reality is that the estate closure shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The fact that it did only reveals, even more clearly, the short-sightedness that exists in Government. It has also demonstrated, to us at least, that the Administration cannot really grapple with the manifold responsibilities of administering the State.

Any Government worth its salt would have considered the industry holistically. They would not have restrictCOMBAT Nov/Dec, 2019

ed themselves to the realm of financial profits only. To do this is an absurdity. The sugar industry - as many, including GAWU, have pointed out - has to be seen from economic viability, which goes much deeper and wider than simply financial analysis. Certainly, if the Administration were to adopt its sugar yardstick to other areas of the State, it may well find that certain government services are not financially viable. Would those services also be placed on the chopping block? We of the GAWU wouldn’t support such an approach, recognizing the wider economic benefits of

those services.

The truth is, when viewing the industry through an economic lens, the argument for sugar’s minimization becomes even weaker. Certainly, the estates were more than just producers of sugar and molasses; they were the hive of activities and represented a beacon of sustenance and hope. Apart from being major employers, the estates’ operation ensured that villages were drained, thus preventing sickness and diseases and supporting local farming activities. The consumption activities of sugar workers and their families sustained many smaller businesses and vendors. Workers’ NIS deductions contributed to the viability of the Scheme. Rates and taxes payments to local authorities allowed those bodies to fulfill their mandates. The export from the industry brought in valued and valuable foreign exchange and assisted us to pay for our imports. They are among the several factors that the Administration disregarded, or palpably ignored, when it decided to close those estates.

The December 08, Guyana Chronicle quotes the seldom-utilized Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo as saying “…this government has been fair and compassionate…” to sugar workers. We ask how so? There was hardly any compassion shown when Nagamootoo and company put 7,000 persons out of work and put tens of thousands into hard times in the Christmas Season.

Even Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman recently said that “[t]his is not the time of the year that we should see workers going home…”. Also, where was the fairness, when this Government denied sugar workers a pay rise? In fact, Mr Nagamotoo, who has the least responsibility of all his predecessors, is quoted by the Chronicle as saying “…the government cannot automatically intervene…” but it was the same Nagamootoo in the December 19, 2010 Stabroek News who said that “[t]he Government would do well also to explore all possibilities to give the sugar workers even a nominal wage increase.

Zero is an insult, not an option.” The PM moved from the ridiculous to fiction when the Chronicle reported him as saying that some redundant sugar workers “…were also given plots of land to farm…”. Where are the lands Mr Nagamootoo speaks about? Who were the workers that benefitted? What sort of activities have these workers ventured into? As far as we know, not even an inch of sugar lands was given to the displaced workers.

Minister Trotman, in the December 07 Guyana Chronicle, deemed talk of re-opening estates as “disingenuous”.

But wasn’t it disingenuous when now Minister Ramjattan spoke at APNU+AFC Rally at Whim on March 29,

2015 and committed that the Coalition “…will not in any way close the sugar industry...”? Wasn’t it also disingenuous when candidate David Granger, according to a March 18, 2015 Inews report, said, “[w]e are not going to throw the sugar industry through the window”? Also, wasn’t it disingenuous when the APNU+AFC went into the sugar belt and promised workers 20% pay rise? Mr Trotman said “[w]ith oil coming, we will transition most if not all those workers in the sugar industry…”, but in the next breath we are told “[w]e had trained about 100 sugar workers…”. So three (3) years after Wales closed its doors, and two (2) years after Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara ceased operation, the Minister admitted that one-seventieth of all who have been displaced were trained for the oil and gas sector. At this rate, it will take the good Minister the next 138 years before each worker is transitioned. And yet Mr Trotman wants to talk about disingenuousness.

The Chronicle also quotes APNU General Secretary Mr Joseph Harmon as saying on the matter that “…it is not something that any right thinking Guyanese can take on face value.” Mr Harmon, we believe, should be the last to speak about taking things at face value. It was the same gentleman, when he was Minister of State, according to a November 16, 2017 DPI report, who said the “…closure of the Rose Hall and Enmore Estates will most likely take effect in 2018 since a system is not yet in place for the sugar workers following closure.” The APNU GS was quoted by the DPI then as saying “…the welfare of the workers is the primary consideration of this Administration, and we will not see workers put on the breadline in that manner, without some recourse.” Of course, mere days after Mr Harmon made those statements, the GuySuCo kicked the closure process into high gear and began to inform workers they would not be needed any longer. Can we really take Mr Harmon at face value?

The December 08, Guyana Chronicle editorial posits that “…the promised reopening of the estates makes no economic sense”. But we fail to see how the Chronicle is really making any sense. The NIS, in its 2016 Annual Report, pointed out that the closure of the estates will “…have a material impact on the contributions receivable by the Scheme.” In 2018, on two (2) occasions – in May and October – the Government was forced to approach the Parliament for supplementary allocations to the NDIA in order for that body to cover the costs of the D&I responsibilities previously undertaken by the sugar industry. Of course, too the hardest hit have been the workers and their families, who have been plunged into misery. Life for them has become surreal as the days have become harder. It is an uphill task to figure how to meet life’s ends. Certainly such factors make all the sense, whether it is economic, social, human and even commonsense. There is no argument, in our view.

The fact that the Government has gone on the defensive on this issue is most telling. It appears to be mortally afraid of the re-opening of the estates. We wonder whether there is more than meets the eye. Already we have learnt about plans to divvy up the sugar lands on the East Coast of Demerara. Is this a spoke in the wheel?

But that aside, why doesn’t the APNU+AFC Government want the 5,000-plus of East Demerara, Rose Hall and Skeldon to be re-employed? Why should these people be denied their bread and butter? Why should their dreams be abandoned? Why should they not live happy lives? Certainly, in our view, they, like all Guyanese, are just as deserving PAGE SEVEN

2019 ends with sugar workers’ pay frozen for over 1,800 days

Workers picketing outside of the President’s office on December 03 calling on him and his Goverment to intervene to address a pay rise which has denied to them since 2015

As 2019 ends, a burning issue within the sugar industry remains the stagnated pay of sugar workers. It is now over 1,800 days since sugar workers’ pay rates have remained stagnated.

Over the last few weeks, the workers and the Union have heightened their call for a pay rise. A petition supported by thousands of workers to President Granger remains unanswered, though the President has committed to providing a response after he heard from the sugar company.

Our Union understands that GuySuCo has provided a response to the President, but nothing so far has been forthcoming from Mr Granger. Apart from the petition, workers have conducted vigils and protest activities outside of the estates. They also took part in a picketing exercise outside of the Ministry of the Presidency, where they encountered a massive security mobilization despite the peaceful character of the activity.

The workers and the nation have been told by a few Government of-

ficials that it is the Board that must address the question of pay rise. This, our Union had shared, is simply a weak excuse as it is widely recognized that the Board is appointed by the Government and that tells us what relationship exists between the two.

Additionally, even if it is indeed the Board by itself that has to make such a pronouncement, we wonder what kind of Government can just simply ignore the situation that confront the workers. Mr Granger, during an interview, when pointedly asked about the Government stepping in to assist in the situation, completely sidestepped the question. To us the President’s actions only demonstrate that the plight of sugar workers does not attract the Coalition’s concern or sympathy. In the meantime, workers and their families continue to suffer. At this time, when many of their colleagues are preparing for a season of merriment, joy and happiness, thousands in the sugar belt face yet another grim season of sadness and despair.

GAWU application to represent MARDS workers stalled due to Labour Dept staff shortage The GAWU, on July 15 this year, applied to become the bargaining agent on behalf of the workers employed by the Mahaicony/Abary Rice Development Scheme located at Burma, Mahaicony. The workers approached our Union to become members after they became dissatisfied with their recognised union for several reasons.

We are aware that the TURCB has considered our application and approved the conduct of a survey to determine its veracity. Though several weeks have gone

by, our Union understands that the survey is yet to be conducted. The conduct of the survey rests squarely in the hands of the Department of Labour, which is charged with implementing the decision of the Board. We gather that a lack of staff has severely restricted the Department’s functioning, and despite pleas from officials, it appears that, nothing is really done to alleviate the situation. This, of course, is of no help to the nation’s workers, who depend on the Department to safeguard their interests and rights.

Guyana ill-prepared for first oil

The commencement of commercial oil production, which began on December 20, provides the potential for transformational changes. However, it is our firm view that we remain woefully unprepared for whatever may come our way. Several persons have pointed out that we lack even the legislative, and institutional framework to adequately address oil production.

The GAWU is very much concerned whether our people’s welfare has been adequately addressed. Quite certainly, we cannot ignore the obvious elephants in the oil room. They are many, and are very noticeable. The agreement regarding oil production has been widely critcised and it has been disclosed to be among the poorest arrangements in the world. As a small, developing nation with so many pressing issues that need to be addressed it is upsetting that our people’s resources are not being satisfactorily managed.

There are also the ongoing concerns regarding the absence of any real local content policy. We saw an article published

by OilNow.gy titled “Where is Guyana seeing the benefits of oil production?” disclosing that just over half of the 3,400 employed in the sector are Guyanese. Of course, for us, it would be interesting to

know what are the actual jobs undertaken by locals. That article pointed out that “[l]ocal content continues to be a major focus, though a detailed policy and implementation framework, as well as the requisite legislation, has still not been finalized.”

In fact, commentator, Mr Christopher Ram, in the December 06, Stabroek News, described the most recent iteration of the Local Content Policy as “junk”. This does not give us much confidence that our interests are safeguarded and that our priorities are really priorities at all.

Of course, the recent engagements regarding the sale of Guyana’s share of oil have not been helpful. What have been deemed unusual practices open the door for further and heightened suspicions.

Rightly, anxieties have been raised as questions abound about whether the correct decisions and approaches have been taken.

Magnificent pictures have been painted about the riches that will accrue to our nation. This could well be the case, but we remind that for the few properly-managed oil nations, there is a litany of bad ones. Oil, in many countries, has exacerbated inequity and created, rather than alleviated, social and economic challenges. Our Union, recognising those many real world examples, has our concerns.

Earlier this year, during our engagement with the IMF, we shared views about the possibility of inequality between the oil and non-oil sectors of the economy, and its ramifications for wider societal issues.

This, the IMF team said, was a concern they had as well

An economic disaster in the sugar industry

By Dr Ian McDonald I see with great sadness that sugar production will fall below 100,000 tonnes in 2019.

It is reported that this is the worst production for 80 years. I’m afraid it is worse than that.

The last time sugar production fell be-

low 100,000 tonnes was in 1926 Sadness becomes woe indeed to observe that as long ago as 1876 British Guiana produced over 100,000 tonnes of sugar.

In terms of business activity lost and foreign exchange unearned, it is an economic disaster.

In terms of thousands of people thrown out of employment without lifebelts, the human misery is incalculable.

It is as if Guyana was experiencing a permanent hurricane or a serious earthquake every year.

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