Combat - Oct/Nov 2017

Issue#5 Volume#38

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

Editorial

Democracy under threat

Right-thinking and democracy-loving Guyanese were indeed shocked after they learnt on the evening of October 18, 2017 that President David Granger had decided to appoint a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) outside of the nominees that were submitted by Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. The President, according to the Constitution, was obliged to select from among the Opposition Leader’s nominees. That mechanism has been in place for a quarter-century now, and has worked very successfully. The fact that the President chose, as FITUG described, the ‘nuclear option’, evoked memories of a sad period in Guyana’s history. There were murmurings, from the time the process began to appoint a new GECOM Chairman, that the President was intent on unilaterally appointing the Elections Commission Chairman. Clearly, it seems, those ‘rumours’ were not mere gossip as the President, without rhyme or reason, rejected 18 well-qualified and suitable Guyanese for the important post.

The unbelievable decision by the President has raised suspicions that our country is, once again, heading down a path of rigged elections, where democracy would be thrown under the bus and the will of the people disrespected. This notion was given further credence when the President’s appointed Chairman was sworn in hurriedly during the night of October 18, 2017. It has been opined that the rushed swearing in was an attempt to prevent judicial intervention.

Furthermore, a number of holes have appeared in the new Chairman’s resume. His ability to be impartial is also being questioned. This creates a lot of doubt in the President’s Chairman, ability to act fairly and impartially.

In the hours and days that followed the President’s bombshell decision, organisations and individuals alike have roundly condemned that decision. Many have charged that the President’s decision was unconstitutional and serves to undermine our nation’s still growing democratic culture. Combat recalls that the democracy was restored following the sustained and spirited struggles of Guyanese. Those struggles saw the active participation of the working-people whose lives were severely threatened by years of undemocratic rule. The President, by his very action, has trampled on those struggles and those who participated in them. He has also exposed, glaringly, his and his Administration’s views of democratic-rule and respect of the Constitution.

Continued on page two (2) COMBAT

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October/November, 2017

GuySuCo hierarchy looking for cover - need excuses for low sugar production

Harvested canes lie in the fields to be picked up by mechanical cane loaders for transport to the sugar factory. This year, sugar production will be the lowest since 1990. The sugar company’s management recognising this reality, has already begun to point fingers of blame at the workers as an excuse to cover up their grossly poor stewardship.

As at week-ending November 25, 2017, sugar production for the year had only reached 130,541 tonnes sugar. The second crop, at that time in its eighteenth (18th) week, was far behind schedule, with just 80,942 tonnes sugar being produced as against an expectation of 114,804 tonnes sugar. The massive deficit 33,862 tonnes – is a severe setback for the industry.

The large shortfall could be explained partially by the late commencement of operations at Skeldon and East Demerara Estates, but that in no way can excuse the poor performance by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo). The reality of the situation is that the Company, in the first place, never had the canes to realize the production it set itself to make. The production target has been steadily slipping, moving from 198,458 tonnes at the beginning of the year to 174,839 tonnes sugar by the time the second crop was set to commence in latter July, 2017.

In spite of the large reduction of the production number, it seems from all indications that the GuySuCo would fall miserably short. Several workers, in interactions with the Union, have advised that there estates cannot reach the targets identified, as they pointed to very little canes remaining in the fields. From the 2018 Budget presentation, sugar production this year is targeted to be 152,000 tonnes. It is indeed a massive drop from the 231,000 tonnes sugar produced in 2015. At that time, GAWU recalls, GuySuCo and Government offi-

cials had proudly and loudly proclaimed that political interference in the industry had ended and the industry was moving along the road to recovery. While our Union was pleased with the 2015 accomplishment, we did point out at that time that the 2015 results were as a result of the hard work that was put in during 2014 and had noted that cane has a one year cycle.

The 2016 and 2017 sugar production has served to demonstrate that efforts of 2014 were not sustained by GuySuCo despite the company having been handed large sums by the State. If it is that political interference has ended, though we take that statement with a pinch of salt, then it therefore means the Corporation’s leadership is clearly not cut out for the tasks before it.

The Corporation top-brass, as far as we see, is desperately seeking to find shelter to hide from what is clearly a most embarrassing situation. We have recognized that the workers and the Union, the usual scapegoats, have already been lined up. The haggard strike excuse is already been deployed in an effort to shift blame. But then GuySuCo’s own data regarding the first crop advised that strikes have declined. Certainly, too, the recent regular rainfall will not be missed, and its effect will be magnified to cover up the shameful production this year. Thus illogical, misguided excuses will be embraced to give credence to the terrible production. Desperation has stepped in as GuySuCo’s leadership cannot explain its stewardship.

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Democracy under...

Continued from page one (1) What is even more disturbing is that the current APNU/AFC Administration has in its midst several individuals who have labelled themselves as ‘freedom fighters’.

These persons never lose a chance to regale Guyanese with stories of their participation and work in the struggles for the restoration of democracy. Today we see them openly supportive of that decision and defending it to the hilt. Their utterances certainly run counter to all they said they were supportive of in those years of struggle for democracy. It seems that the trappings of power and fame have served to erase what they said they believed in and fought for. This speaks a lot about the persons and their commitment to scared principles and beliefs.

The President’s act has struck a chord and undoubtedly conjured up sad memories of those who lived in the times of undemocratic rule and when elections were

regarded as not being free and fair. The unilateral decision is indeed an ominous sign, and tells us that the country is heading down a path the old Guyanese need not re-live and younger Guyanese need not experience at all. The President’s actions undoubtedly cannot be disconnected from the realities of our times. Now-adays we are seeing social decay, economic reversal and all round decline. While the Government has sought to put a positive spin to the situation, the Guyanese people have been able to see through the propaganda. Certainly, such fear is fuelling the posture that has been adopted.

Combat holds that democratic rule is an important and essential element for progress and development. Today the times calls on us all to stand up and raise our voices against this open assault on our fledgling democracy. It is in our interest, our children’s interest, our grandchildren interest and the interest of all future generations of Guyanese.

Commentary:

NIS under threat?

It was disturbing when Combat learnt, through media reports, that the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) was, with increasing regularity, being forced to dip into the National Insurance Fund (NIF).

The NIF, which represents the Scheme’s savings over the years, was intent to be invested, and the earnings accruing from the investment were to be used to meet certain expenditure and then re-invested to ensure the Scheme’s stability and to meet its current and future obligations.

The admission, in our view, is very worrying ,and does not portray the Scheme in a healthy light. It rather will cause many contributors to begin to raise obvious questions about their contributions, and raise unease among them about the likelihood of receiving the benefits they are rightly entitled to. At this time, when the Scheme’s expenditure is exceeding revenue, the NIS will face a severe shock, as thousands of sugar workers will no longer be paying their contributions come year-end, should the anti-people sugar plans be implemented. Many of these workers are already entitled to a pension, some even COMBAT

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at the maximum rate, and they will come knocking at pensionable age.

It is doubtful that the NIS has considered the implications of losing such a large number of contributors, and then honouring their benefits down the road.

Certainly, the short-sighted nature of the current Administration has not taken this important factor into account. The leave-it-for-later, fire-fighting approach to governance and our people’s well-being is perplexingly worrying and seems to tell us that bigger difficulties are down the road, which will require decisive action that may see our people finding themselves in a precarious situation.

The NIS, for the working-people, represents an important and, in some cases, only source of income during their retirement years. Therefore, prudent approaches to the scheme and the management of its funds must always be proactively employed, to ensure that the Scheme continues to function in a sustainable manner to ensure that contributors receive their benefits, as they rightly deserve.

GAWU foremostly responsible to its members

Our Union was not surprised to read the comments of GuySuCo’s Senior Communications Officer Ms Audreyanna Thomas which were contained in an article titled “Despite low attendance, GuySuCo says on target for second crop” which appeared in the November 13, 2017 Stabroek News. The GuySuCo officer is quoted to have said that our Union is seeking to “frustrate the company”.

For some weeks now, our Union has been pointing out that the Corporation had begun to set the stage to lay blame on the workers and the GAWU for its inability to achieve its target. This strategy, we opined, was a sordid attempt to give the Corporation’s hierarchy cover for what will be the poorest production since 1990.

On this matter of workers’ protest, Ms Thomas should edify us how many of the workers’ actions were as a result of price disputes or resulted from unilateral changes to long-standing work practices.

Most, if not all, of the work stoppages, could be grouped into the two (2) afore-

mentioned categories. The fact remains, as clearly evidenced by Ms Thomas’s comments, that the Corporation is seeking to ride roughshod over the workers, disregarding their interests, concerns and apprehensions. From GuySuCo’s recently admitted perspective, it seems the workers must meekly stand in silence as their rights, benefits and conditions are unconscionably taken away.

We wish to again advise Ms Thomas and the GuySuCo top brass that our Union has no intention of frustrating the Corporation’s objectives, but at the same time, we have a responsibility to protect and advance the cause of the workers.

We wish to advise that we will not shirk from that responsibility, and no amount of ‘propaganda’ concoctions will force or cause us to change our position.

In closing, we were indeed heartened to learn from Ms Thomas that the company would achieve its set target. Is it the 198,000-tonne target or the 174,000-tonne target or the more recent 152,000 tonne target?

Our Union donated towards the Caribbean hurricane relief efforts. GAWU was moved by the destruction and the loss of lives in Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. In the picture GAWU General Secretary, Cde Seepaul Narine, presents our donation to CDC Director, Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, in the presence of officials from the Union and the CDC PAGE TWO

Rose Hall workers say it’s not too late to reconsider closure decision

The following statement was read by Rose Hall worker, Glen McLeod at a press conference held by the workers at the Union’s New Amsterdam office on November 08, 2017:“Those of us present here today are representatives of the thousands who are employed at Rose Hall Estate, as well as the several thousands more who depend on the estate’s operations for their well-being. We were very much saddened to learn, on October 13, 2017, that GuySuCo communicated its intent to close our estate in a few short weeks. While we were aware of previous statements by Government and GuySuCo officials regarding Rose Hall’s closure, we were hopeful that there would have been a re-look at the intention, recognizing the obvious hardship that would result from the estate’s closure. Moreover, we hoped that our decision-makers, recognizing the difficulties which now face the people of Wales, would have harboured second thoughts. Despite GuySuCo’s recent communication, we believe there is still time to re-consider the closure approach.

was nationalized and GuySuCo was established. In fact, a plaque was sited at the Estate to commemorate that historic moment. We recall the pride we felt as Guyanese, being the owners of the industry, and we were promised by then Prime Minister Burnham that better days were ahead for us. We also wish to point out that Rose Hall Estate is the only estate that has been awarded a national award – the Medal of Service.

Regarding the estate’s closure, we are aware that this has long been advocated by the topmost man in the sugar industry. It is a position he has held for over two (2) decades now, and has sought implementation on a few occasions. It was pleasing to know that those whom he sought to convince in the past resisted his ideas. It seems now this ‘snake oil’ salesman has found a willing partner/s to assist him in implementing such nefarious plans.

For us of Rose Hall, closure can be seen as a death knell for so many hardworking people and their families. For us of Rose Hall, closure means that our plans for life, our dreams for a better tomorrow, and our aspirations for our children and grandchildren have all but been dashed. For us of Rose Hall, closure will bring about uncertain times and many difficult, misery-filled days ahead. For us of Rose Hall, closure brings about real questions: like where would our next meal come from? How would our children and grandchildren go to school? And how would we earn and meet our obligations? For us of Rose Hall, closure means difficult choices have to be made:- would we eat, or would we pay the electricity bills? Would we send the children to school, or would we buy clothes? Would we starve, or do we have to do something not necessarily right to put food on the table? These, ladies and gentlemen of the media, are some of the stark but real choices we would face should the planned closure be implemented. Closure could very well force good people to do things they shouldn’t do. This is the life and this is the tomorrow we are being pushed into.

Rose Hall Estate occupies a significant place in the history of the sugar industry in Guyana. It was not too far from the current estate that, in 1763, the Berbice Slave Rebellion led by Cuffy took place. It was also at Rose Hall in 1913 that the killing of 15 indentured labourers took place. Both incidents highlighted the cruel plantation system and the dogged determination of the workers then to seek a better day for themselves and their descendants. Rose Hall was also the site chosen by then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham to have the Vesting Day activity on May 26, 1976, when the sugar industry

For the people of Rose Hall, the estate represented more than a place of work; it allowed us to reach many of life’s goals. It allowed us to become better people, and it gave us the opportunity to contribute to the building and development of Guyana. The estate is a beacon for our communities. When it is in operation it provides hope, it gives the communities life, and it provides light in the darkness that often times fills life. In a few short weeks, the estate chimney will no longer smoke, the horn will no longer blare, the hum of the sugar factory would cease, the lorries will no longer run, the night sky will

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not light up as canes are burnt, and the unmistakable sound of traversing cane punts will no longer be heard.

And in its place, an eerie silence would be heard.

For many of us, we are not sure what we would do should the Government and GuySuCo remain unmoved and proceed to close the estate. The reality is that in the absence of Rose Hall Estate, there is simply nothing else to do in the area. There is no other industry or enterprise which can readily take us on. While we do face some difficulties now, those would be multiplied several times over should the closure take place. Our hopes of a better future and our now cohesive communities would be severely affected. Crime, destitution and social ills would rise incredibly. The situation in the homes would become difficult, and broken families would become more commonplace. We want to believe this cannot be the life our leaders want us and our families to face.

We are told that Rose Hall has to be closed because there is not sufficient money to support its operation.

But we ask, isn’t the cost of the massive social upheaval that will take place more costly, as was pointed before

by GAWU? Certainly, significant sums will have to be spent to employ more police officers, to build new jails or extend the existing ones, and to hire more magistrates and have larger courts to address the crime situation that would come about from the estate’s closure. Huge sums will also have to be spent on increasing the lot of social workers and improving the social protection infrastructure to deal with the social problems that would arise. Great sums will also have to be expended to deal with the increase in poverty. These are just a few of the real difficulties we see that would arise, and hopefully that would have to be meaningfully addressed by Rose Hall’s closure.

We believe that Rose Hall Estate can succeed and remain viable. Like the other estates in the sugar industry, our main problem is not enough canes being available.

Our estate has shown in the past that it can do better and be better.

Continued on page four (4) PAGE THREE

GAWU calls on Govt to relook More Wales workers being at public servants’ bonus let go The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), like the public servants, was deeply dismayed when it learnt that the Government would not pay any year-end bonus payments to its employees. The thousands employed by the State must have been eagerly looking forward to this payment which they have enjoyed in 2015 and 2016. Some may have even planned on what comforts the bonus sum would have brought them and their families during the upcoming festive season.

From what we have read and heard, the Government is arguing that there is no fiscal space to meet the payments. For the workers, this is indeed saddening and speaks to the priority they are accorded.

While monies cannot be found to ease the burdens the workers face, or to assist them to make the Christmas Season more joyful for their children, we, at the same time, see monies being found to meet other expenses which need not be incurred. In recent times, for instance, we have seen a massive publicity blitz, involving fanciful billboards and radio advertisements, to promote the 2018 National Budget.

We also found it disturbing that in seeking to justify the denial, the Government has pointed to sums being utilized to fund infrastructural projects such as the East

Coast Demerara road or the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

As far as we are aware, those projects are foreign-funded, and therefore cannot be used as a pretext to deny the hardworking workers a deserved bonus payment.

Furthermore, the expenditures that flow from the conduct of those projects serve to spur income and consumption, which enhances our fiscal space.

At this time, the GAWU calls on the Government to carefully re-consider and fully re-examine the possibility of a yearend bonus payment to the workers. Given the added pressures and heavier burdens that the workers have faced and are facing, a bonus payment will certainly give them some breathing room and make their Christmas Season a bit brighter.

Our Union also calls for the productive sugar workers, who were denied pay rises in 2015 and 2016 as well as Annual Production Incentive (API) last year, to be treated equally with their counterparts in the Government and to have their pay rise concerns addressed and for them to be awarded a like bonus payment. At this time, we take the opportunity to call on the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to address the Union’s wage/salary claim for this year, which has been before GuySuCo since September 05, 2017.

Political sound bytes and rhetoric will not solve problems facing the sugar industry Continued from page sixteen (16) From what we have read, however, we cannot fail to express our concern. We recognize that many of the skills being spoken about have been and are being heavily promoted through Government-sponsored training programmes.

Thus the ALP will inculcate skills which are already heavily subscribed, and therefore will see the increased competition among such service providers, and would surely lead to a reducing of incomes from such activities.

The Chronicle also speaks about the possibilities of leasing lands for the displaced sugar workers to engage in farming.

Again, this seems to be a worthy thought, but, in the sugar communities, with the high levels of unemployment, the ability of the ex-sugar workers/farmers to sell their output would be near to impossible and thus discouraging. More so, when taking account that the FAO, not too long ago, disclosed that some 30 per cent of all farmers’ output is either wasted or has to be thrown away, do we really, at the national level, want to expand the farming COMBAT

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community without processing facilities or being aware of market demand and requirements? It seems we are putting the cart before the horse, and ill-considered maybe unworkable - suggestions are just thrown up as answers to the serious situation that will confront workers.

GAWU believes that the sugar industry’s success lies in a diversified sugar industry engaged in distilling, co-generation, refining, and packaging. This is an approach we have seen taken in several sugar producing countries with great success. Furthermore, such a direction was extensively studied in Guyana’s context and found to be a viable path. GAWU holds that if we really want to safeguard the well-being of thousands of ordinary Guyanese, a diversified industry is the best approach in attain such goals. Political sound bytes and rhetoric will not solve problems facing the industry, but serious engagement and commitment can bring many brighter days and bring us closer to attaining the so far elusive ‘Good Life for all Guyanese’.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was very dismayed to have learnt that a number of the workers of Wales Estate, who were retained after the estate ceased cane cultivation and sugar processing, are soon to be made redundant and will be retrenched.

This latest move represents another severe blow to the already beleaguered communities and people of Wales.

The small workforce was being kept, among other things, to ensure that the Wales cultivation is in an ‘acceptable’ state as the estate was being transitioned to non-sugar crops. The fact that the GuySuCo has decided to engage in further retrenchments at Wales serve to indicate that the planned other crops division, like in its past incarnation, has not been successful. This point was succinctly made by the Wales workers at a press conference on October 10, 2017, when they revealed that the seed paddy experiment failed to live up to expectations. GuySuCo recently admitted that 27 bags of paddy per acre were obtained from the recent harvest.

It was a steep shortfall from the 40 bags that should have been realized. Moreover,

a significant proportion of the harvested paddy was not of seed paddy specification, and had to be milled into rice, which further compounded the woes.

Regarding the other spoken-about ventures into cattle and dairy farming, orchard cultivation, aquaculture, etc, we hardly hear any talk about them these days. GAWU did express our strong reservations about moving in this direction.

Our Union pointed to the past failures as well as the absence of answers to many critical questions regarding the new endeavours, among other things. It seems that the GuySuCo intellectuals did not take our well-intentioned views into account and we have now arrived at this sad destination.

The GAWU has been advised that Wales Estate will also fall under the reach of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), which will seek somehow to retrieve the heavy damage that has already been inflicted by GuySuCo. We are indeed hopeful that something could be done, bearing in mind the already difficult situation that has engulfed Wales and the contigious communities.

Continued from page three (3) We believe those times can return but there is need for some investment together with a committed and knowledgeable management. The workers are supportive of all efforts to safeguard the estate. We are aware too that there is talk of privatizing Rose Hall. This is not a move we are supportive of. We know of the sad consequences that such a direction can bring.

We know that the new owners, in all likelihood, will not respect our gains and will seek to curtail significantly the benefits and conditions we enjoy and which came about after difficult and hard struggles

waged by us and those who came before us.

Rose Hall workers say it’s not too late...

We urge the decision makers to reconsider the closure policy. We urge them to think about the people who will be affected. We urge them to think about the innocent children whose tomorrow stands threatened. We urge them to think about the threats to family life and community well-being. We urge them to step back and look at the big picture and not to be consumed only by finance and recall their promise to us and our families of a ‘Good Life’.

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According to GuySuCo:

Sugar workers took home $200,000 less in 2016

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), through reports appearing in several sections of the media, took note of the reported comments and statements made by officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) on October 13, 2017. Interestingly, we noted that the Corporation’s press encounter took place on a most inauspicious day – Black Friday. Maybe it was mere coincidence. Or maybe, given the terrible news that GuySuCo shared, the day was most appropriate, as it only served to rub salt in the deep wounds that have been and are being inflicted by the sugar company.

Our Union noted, too, that the top-level of the Corporation’s hierarchy surprisingly absented themselves from engaging with the press. And instead, a second tier team was sent to do what really their ‘bosses’ should have done. We wonder why is it that the Corporation top-brass chose to stay away. Is it a case of them avoiding the press, as they may be called on to defend their stewardship? It seems there may be more in the mortar than the pestle can pound.

Pushing thousands to misery and difficulty It was most ironic that the Corporation’s officials were like proud peacocks, beaming brightly to deliver in heartlessness the cold news that thousands of sugar workers would be sent on the breadline. The displaced workers will join the many who have suffered a similar fate in recent times. As the sad news was delivered, it seemed that the GuySuCo team was almost joyful when it sought to justify that such a harsh approach was necessary. It is surprising that the sugar company, as a stateowned entity, has taken an approach of putting profits before people.

Such positions are normally adopted by private enterprises, but not state-owned corporations. State enterprises the world over play an important role in promoting employment in an effort to minimize poverty and social problems. Even in the United States, one of the bastions of capitalism, private enterprises were given support by that country’s Government in an effort to protect workers and the wider economy. Similar factors were also recognized by then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham when he decided to nationalize the sugar industry.

GuySuCo’s ALP The Corporation then spoke highly about its Alternative Livelihood Programme (ALP) which it says will seek to give displaced workers new skills. While not seeking to completely throw cold water on the Corporation’s proCOMBAT

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gramme, we recognize that many of the skills touted are already heavily subscribed to in the local labour market. It creates a great deal of mystery as to where the jobs will come from to support the trained workers, especially in view of a generally-recognised economic slowdown. Moreover, we are aware that the Government, through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and other such programmes, has been offering such skills training to youth, among others. Over the last several years, thousands of Guyanese have benefited from such training. It would be interesting to know what has been the rate of success of those trained in obtaining jobs. We remember a study conducted not too long ago by the TVET body which did not show very encouraging results.

Reduced standard-of-living for the workers The Corporation’s officials then boastfully tell us that between 2015 and 2016, employment costs in the industry declined massively, by falling as much as 17 per cent in the period. For the workers, this is a severe blow to their standard-of-living. Based on the Corporation’s admission, each worker, on average, took home about $200,000 less last year than they did in the previous year. The GAWU wants to believe, however, that the decline in the ordinary workers’ earnings was even more significant. We recall that in 2016 there was a substantial expansion of the Corporation’s hierarchy, with several highly-paid officials being taken on. Also, several technical officers and assistants were employed to help the newly hired officials. Given the expansion at the top-bracket level, and noting the overall contraction of the ordinary workers’ pay, we don’t believe our conclusion is far-fetched.

Increased revenues – light at the end of the tunnel GuySuCo’s team also made another startling revelation regarding revenues. The Deputy CEO/Finance Director, Paul Bhim, revealed that revenues rose from about $18B in 2015 to $20.4B in 2016. What makes it interesting in our mind is that last year sugar production was 26 per cent lower than in 2015, but revenues rose by just over 11 per cent. Moreover, if the Skeldon Co-Generation Plant was in the Corporation’s hands, revenue last year from this resource would have been $9.5B higher, and this would have significantly reduced the required Government support to the industry. Clearly, it tells us that light is appearing at the end of the tunnel.

Rice experiment another failure The sugar-company delegation then spoke about its rice experiment at Wales Estate. The public is told that some 27 bags of paddy per acre were obtained vis-à-vis an expectation of 35 bags. The Corporation’s Diversification Options report, dated October 26, 2016 and given to our Union on December 31, 2016, says at page 13 that “…GUYSUCO can achieve approximately 40 (180lbs) bags per acre”. Has the Corporation lowered its expectation? It would be interesting to know what the reason/s for such reduction was/were. Furthermore, from information that has reached us regarding the experiment,

we take the Corporation’s information with a pinch of salt. The GuySuCo may wish to edify the nation how many bags of seed paddy per acre were obtained. We understand that a large amount of the harvested paddy did not reach the specifications to be deemed seed paddy, and will have to be milled into rice. This means that GuySuCo will obtain a lower-than-expected price for harvested paddy and could very well realize a loss on the experiment for which it is indebted to the Guyana Rice Development Board. The GAWU also noticed that nothing at all was said about the other non-sugar initiatives that GuySuCo spoke greatly about in the recent past. Have these proposals become stillborn?

Selling Skeldon at basement prices Skeldon’s sale was also promoted on ground that the factory was inefficient and required significant investment. We find this statement at odds with the reality that several parties have expressed their interest to purchase the estate. Normally, a rational person, in seeking to sell their property, would usually speak to the positives about their assets in order to obtain the best possible price. The GuySuCo has, however, adopted an opposite approach. It seems, from our perspective that the Corporation is making the case to have the estate sold at a basement price to a preferred buyer.

Lamenting strikes – a worn out and stale excuse The Corporation also laments the strike situation in the sugar industry. This age-old excuse is becoming worn out and stale now, but the GuySuCo hierarchy knows that it needs to find justifications for its failures. GAWU reiterates that the majority of strikes are related to disputes concerning payment for abnormalities such as grass, vines, weeds, etc which requires significant extra efforts by workers to harvest the required quantum of canes.

As far as we are aware, this is probably the only such situation in the entire “southern hemisphere”, where a worker is required to execute a task that has no fixed rate, and the worker is required to work in many instances under suboptimal conditions. If the Corporation was indeed serious about addressing this long-standing problem it has a suggestion made by the GAWU long time ago and reiterated over the years, as well as a recommendation contained in the Sugar CoI report. But, in our view, GuySuCo wants the situation to remain as it is.

Should such a mechanism be agreed upon, the Corporation’s deceptions would stand nakedly exposed, as all the available canes would be harvested without dispute and delay; and the Union and the workers, as its scapegoats would no longer be in the Corporation’s crosshairs.

Conclusion The Corporation’s Black Friday press encounter, in our view, only served to further expose the company’s disdain for its workers and their organization. The show which played out at the NCN studios failed miserably in assuaging the real and significant concerns that the sugar workers have with the plans for the industry. Several concerning issues in our mind still remain unaddressed.

The charade by GuySuCo in seeking to justify its sad and wrong positions stands exposed for the nation - indeed the world - to see. History will not judge kindly those who lead and promote the Corporation’s plans to bring hardship to so many of our compatriots and their families.

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Balfour Declaration at 100: Seeds of Discord A hundred years after Britain’s infamous declaration, its repercussions are still felt across the Middle East today prejudice the position of the local population of Palestine, and encourage anti-semitism against Jews worldwide.

While the declaration called for political rights in Palestine for Jews, rights for the Palestinian Arabs, who comprised the vast majority of the local population, were limited to civil and religious rights.

“The Jews were described as a people with the right to self-determination, while the Arabs were considered non-Jewish communities,” explains French historian Philippe Prevost.

“They didn’t even mention the name of the Arabs. They were Protesters wave Palestinian flags and carry a defaced photo of UK Prime Minister Theresa May, and called non-Jewish. They only could enjoy civil and religious Arthur Balfour on the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, in Ramallah on Nov. 2, 2017 rights. They had no political

By Al Jazeera self-interest at that time. Not an emotional interest in Zionism or a love of Jews, and rights.”

But the Balfour Declaration set in moThe Balfour Declaration was a pub- the Jewish plight and the desire for return tion a series of events that, over two delic promise by the British Government of the Jews to the holy land, no... they wantduring World War One to support the ed to mobilise the allies behind Britain and cades, began to signal its deep flaws. establishment of “a national home for the this idea of Jewish power in the world. The British proposed partitioning PalesJewish people” in Palestine. Palestine was They were all of the different policy elites in tine into separate Arab and Jewish states, still a part of the Ottoman Empire at the the war - believers in the notion that Jews but Arab dissent built up to the threetime, with a minority Jewish population. have tremendous influence in the corridors year Revolt between 1936 and 1939. It The 67-word document, in the form of of power around the globe. If the British was a nationalist uprising against the a letter from British Foreign Secretary Government appeared to support Zionism, Arthur Balfour to the prominent British they would win over World Jewry to their Jewish figure Lord Rothschild, dated No- side, and all that entailed. The British were vember 2, 1917, read: convinced that Zionism was really at the His Majesty’s government view with centre of the Jewish heart.” favour the establishment in Palestine Whatever its basis, the relationship beof a national home for the Jewish peotween the British Zionists and the govple, and will use their best endeavernment was established in late 1916, and ours to facilitate the achievement of continued to develop throughout 1917, this object, it being clearly understood leading to the Declaration in Novemthat nothing shall be done which may ber. It was the first expression of public prejudice the civil and religious rights support for Zionism by a major political of existing non-Jewish communities in power.

Palestine, or the rights and political “As a term, ‘a national home’ didn’t exstatus enjoyed by Jews in any other ist”, says Palestinian historian Basheer country.

Nafi. “At that time, international law was Whatever its real intentions, the decla- well developed. They could have used ration has had a profound impact on the ‘self-governance’ or ‘independent state’.

Middle East and its people; and its effects There was no such a term in international still resonate across the region today. law as ‘a national homeland’. What did ‘a The British War Cabinet began to con- national home for the Jews in Palestine’ By Diana Johnstone Edward S. Herman, a tireless champisider the future of Palestine during World mean?”

War One, in which it fought the central The term “national home” was inten- on of peace, died on November 11, 2017 powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary tionally vague as to whether a Jewish state at the age of 92. Ed could be considered and the Ottoman Empire. was contemplated. The intended bound- the godfather of antiwar media critique, According to historian and author Jon- aries of Palestine were not specified, and both because of his own contributions athan Schneer, the British somehow “felt the British Government later confirmed and because of the many writers he enthat the Jews held the key to winning the that the words “in Palestine” meant that couraged to pursue that work. Thanks to war, and so they had to figure out how to the Jewish national home was not intend- his logical mind and sense of justice, he sharply grasped the crucial role and dibribe the Jews to support them.” ed to cover all of Palestine.

James Renton of Edge Hill University The second half of the declaration was verse techniques of media propaganda in elaborates on British motives: “We can added to satisfy opponents of the policy, promoting war.

He saw that these pro-war lies flourish boil it down to two elements of British who had claimed that it would otherwise on the basis of what he called the distinc-

British administration, demanding Arab independence and the end of Jewish immigration.

In May 1939, the British Government had begun to reconsider its position, and published a policy document known in the UK as a White Paper. It proposed abandoning the partition of Palestine into two states and called instead for an independent Palestine in which Arabs and Jews would share government.

It limited Jewish immigration to 75,000 for five years, and said that the Arab majority should determine future immigration levels. It also said that Balfour had not meant to create a Jewish state at the expense of the Arabs - any more than the McMahon-Hussein correspondence 24 years before had promised an Arab state to Sharif Hussein of Mecca.

But the White Paper faced opposition on several fronts, and was dropped by a British Government suddenly preoccupied with the Second World War. A hundred years on, the declaration’s effects still resonate across the Middle East.

It still represents to Palestinians the moment an imperial power promised their land away to another people. They hold Balfour responsible for their expulsion, displacement and occupation.

Thank You, Ed Herman

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tion between “worthy and unworthy victims” persistently drawn by apologists for United States militarism.

The date of Ed Herman’s death carries an irony that he might have appreciated. It was the 99th anniversary of the armistice that brought an end to the wholesale slaughter of World War, a date that should above all be a reminder that war is senseless mass murder.

He personified human qualities that currently appear to have gone out of style. Prominent among these qualities was modesty. He generously encouraged other writers. His most famous work, Manufacturing Consent, a more or less permanent worldwide best-seller, is widely attributed to Noam Chomsky – although Chomsky himself, in recognition of Herman’s leading role in developing the book’s ideas, insisted in putting Herman’s name ahead of his own in non-alphabetical order. It never seemed to occur to Ed Herman that he never had the recognition he deserved.

He never expected gratitude, but there are so many of us who have reason to say, “Thank you, Ed Herman, for all you gave us.”

PAGE SIX

INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL

Trump Doubles Down on Sanctions and Regime Change for Venezuela

This is not “democracy promotion," it is regime change by any means necessary

LEFT: US President Donald Trump and RIGHT: Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro

By Mark Weisbrot On November 3rd, President Maduro of Venezuela proposed a meeting with creditors, for November 13th in Caracas, to discuss a restructuring of Venezuelan public debt. On November 8th, the Trump administration reacted by warning US bondholders that attending this meeting could put them in violation of US economic sanctions against Venezuela. Such a violation can be penalized by 30 years in prison and up to $10 million dollars in fines for businesses.

Then the US administration added ten more Venezuelan officials to the list of people under US sanctions. The new targets included electoral officials and also the head of the government’s main food distribution program.

The sanctions violate the charter of the Organization of American States (Chapter 4, Article 19) and other international treaties that the U.S. has signed.

It is important to understand both the context and the intended (as well as likely) effects of the Trump administration’s actions. With encouragement from Florida Senator Marco Rubio and other Republicans, Trump has been trying to help topple the elected government of Venezuela. After four months of violent street protests failed to accomplish this goal (and also alienated much of the Venezuelan population), most of the Venezuelan opposition opted to participate in the gubernatorial elections of October 15th.

The leading and most reliable pro-opposition pollster, Datanálisis, forecast an overwhelming opposition victory, with 18 governors. The result, however was the COMBAT

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opposite: the governing PSUV (Socialist) party won 18 of the 23 races.

Although there appear to be false vote totals that swung close one governor’s race (in Bolivar state) -- and this should be investigated -- the other results are not in question, and were accepted by most of the opposition. There are various explanations for the surprise result, but the most credible and important appear to revolve around opposition voter abstention and higher-than-expected turnout of pro-government voters. Improved food distribution probably helped the government.

One thing that seems to have hurt the opposition was their support for the Trump sanctions. According to Datanálisis, Venezuelans were against the sanctions by a margin of 61.4 to 28.5 percent; and among the unaligned voters, more than 70 percent were opposed. Also, 69 percent wanted the opposition and government to re-initiate talks. The regime change strategy had failed.

But the Trump administration decided to double down on both regime change and sanctions. The strategy appears to be to prevent an economic recovery and worsen the shortages (which include essential medicines and food) so that Venezuelans will get back in the streets and overthrow the government.

The Trump sanctions explicitly prohibit new borrowing. This is to ensure that Venezuela cannot do what most governments do with most of their debt, i.e. “roll over” the principal by borrowing anew to pay the principal when a bond matures.

For example, last week the government had to scramble to pay off $1.2 billion

in principal for PDVSA bonds, to avoid default. (Although Venezuela cannot borrow on international markets right now, they could possibly do so in the foreseeable future).

The sanctions also make a debt restructuring much more difficult if not impossible. In a debt restructuring, interest and principal payments are postponed into the future, and the creditors receive new bonds – which the sanctions explicitly prohibit. Now the Trump administration is also threatening even the negotiations for a restructuring, under the pretext that the chief negotiators Vice President Tareck El Aissami and Economy Minister Simon Zerpa, have been sanctioned for alleged drug trafficking and corruption, respectively. The Trump administration has not presented any evidence for these allegations.

The US Treasury statement of November 9 justifies targeting election officials because of “numerous irregularities that strongly suggest fraud helped the ruling party unexpectedly win a majority of governorships.” This is a fabrication, and is reminiscent of the 2013 Venezuelan presidential election, when Washington was the last government to recognize the result. In that race, a statistical analysis of the election-day audit showed that the

odds of getting the official result, if the true result was an opposition victory, were less than one in 25,000 trillion.

But this is what regime change efforts are all about: de-legitimation – if the election results don’t concur, they must be declared fraudulent – and economic strangulation.

Of course, the Venezuelan Government will have to make some serious economic reforms – most importantly, the unification of the exchange rate and other measures to bring down an inflation rate that is passing 1,000 percent annually – if there is to be an economic recovery. But the price of oil has risen 33 percent from a low point in June, and despite declining oil production, Venezuela’s exports are up 28 percent from last year (first eight months, estimate from Torino Capital).

Trump and his allies in the EU and the right-wing governments in Argentina and Brazil, as well as the fanatical Secretary General of the OAS, want to make sure that a recovery never happens. And despite all their blather about human rights and democracy, it is not a peaceful strategy they are promoting as they take measures to increase Venezuelans’ suffering in the hope of provoking the overthrow of the government. This is not “democracy promotion.” It is regime change by any means necessary – as Trump, in his usual blustery way, made clear when he threatened military action against Venezuela.

By Jake Johnson U.K. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May slammed American and British forces for fuelling the Saudi-led bombing campaign in Yemen.

“At least 10,000 people have been killed since the conflict started in 2014, and 7 million people are in extreme hunger. Food shortages and the cholera outbreak are a direct result of the continuing blockade of Yemen by the U.S.- and U.K.-backed Saudi-led coalition,” Corbyn wrote. “Whilst the immediate priority should be humanitarian assistance to Yemen, it is time the government takes immediate steps to play its part in ending the suffering of the Yemeni people.”

The “devastation and destruction in Yemen” Corbyn highlights have been ongoing for years while garnering relatively little attention, but in recent days, the crisis has increasingly been spotlighted by

American media outlets—albeit with one “glaring” omission.

As journalist Adam Johnson notes in a piece for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), U.S. coverage in particular has peddled a “reductionist narrative” that accurately singles out Saudi Arabia for criticism, but conveniently leaves out the fact that the Saudis rely heavily on the U.S., the U.K., and Canada for weaponry, ongoing military intelligence, and political support.

Corbyn’s demand that the U.K. and U.S. take responsibility for their role in sustaining what has been deemed the worst humanitarian crisis in the world comes as the U.N. is calling on Saudi Arabia to end a blockade that is preventing food and medicine from entering Yemen. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, thousands more Yemenis could die per day if the country’s ports remain closed.

Corbyn demands end to US-UK complicity in Yemen’s suffering

PAGE SEVEN

GuySuCo’s unenvious state of mind stands exposed

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) sees it necessary to respond to a letter by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) which appeared in the October 12, 2017 Guyana Chronicle under the title “GAWU must refocus on the business of sugar”. In GuySuCo’s letter, the Corporation’s Senior Communication Officer, Ms Audreyanna Thomas, starts by taking objection to the title of our letter appearing in the Stabroek News of October 07, 2017. On this score, we wish to advise Ms Thomas and the GuySuCo clan that the letter’s title is a product of the editorial wisdom of the Stabroek News. Our missive was titled “GuySuCo should build bridges, not walls”.

Putting the Corporation’s frivolousness aside, the silly objection being made, in our view, serves to expose the sugar company’s unenvious state of mind. It demonstrates, seemingly, the Corporation’s strongly held view that GAWU should be subservient to the company, and that the workers are its property. This is the sort of ‘partnership’ GuySuCo really wants, which is to treat the Union as its servant and the workers as chattels, and not a sincere “partnership”, as it deceptively wants the Guyanese people to believe. The company, as we can determine from our vantage point, is very bitter over its inability to impose its will and way on GAWU and the sugar workers. It is this that is driving its disdain towards our organization and the thousands of ordinary workers in the industry.

The company’s spokeswoman then goes on, accusing our Union of having no responsibility. We expected GuySuCo to be wiser than this. Seemingly, the Corporation is slipping, or maybe has run out of things to say.

Any rational person can see right through GuySuCo’s ill-considered statement. Our Union has a proud record which attests to its responsible, principled and forthright stance on matters. These facts very much throw cold water on the Corporation’s baseless and unsubstantiated statement. But this is the face of the ‘new’ GuySuCo our Union and the workers must now-a-days contend with.

Though it is well known, we wish to make it clear as day that the GAWU is very much aware of its foremost moral and legal responsibility to ensure that the workers’ rights, conditions, and benefits are respected, and not trampled upon. We do not need a condescending lecture from GuySuCo. We also wish to repeat that we remain open to discuss matters of concern with the Corporation. We have never shirked from any such engagement.

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But moving in this direction will require the company to abandon its arm’s length approach to the Union, which the Corporation adopted since October, 2015 when we began to press for a pay rise for sugar workers for year 2015.

The Corporation’s officer, in our view, sought to put an ignoble spin when she sought to address the delay in the workers’ wages on September 15. Ms Thomas tells the public that “…the Corporation exhausted all efforts to garner financial resources to ensure that employees were paid on time…”. The goodly lady’s words are clear and unambiguous. They convey that the Corporation was well aware that workers wouldn’t have been paid on time long before the company contacted us on the afternoon of September 14 to inform us of the delay. Clearly, it was not a case of a sudden, unexpected occurrence.

If the company was indeed sincere about having ‘partnership’ with GAWU, certainly it would have contacted our Union and the workers much earlier than it did, to advise of its difficulty. This speaks volumes about the Corporation’s seriousness in transforming its words into actions.

The Corporation goes on expressing its disquiet over the workers’ protest activities to demand the payment of their wages. We ask what is wrong with workers demanding what they worked for, what is rightfully theirs, and which they justifiably require to make ends meet?

Just a few months ago, quite correctly, several teachers picketed outside of the Region #5 office demanding payment of their salaries which were withheld. Those teachers were not criticized by the Ministry of Education or the Government. We ask why the sugar workers should receive different treatment. But again, it serves to further expose the contempt held by the Corporation’s hierarchy towards the workers, their concerns, and their plight.

The missive then comes to the core of the matter in continuing to lay the groundwork to blame the workers and the Union for the very poor production level which is anticipated this year. In recent times, the GAWU has drawn attention to this propaganda ploy by GuySuCo as it seeks to shift blame and find a scapegoat for its utter failures. Ms Thomas rightly says “more sugar that is produced and sold, the more it will alleviate the Corporation’s financial dilemma”. This succinct statement very much sums up the Corporation’s problems – its inability to produce a sufficient quantity of canes. The fact

remains that the Corporation does not have the canes in the fields to reach its targets. How else does one explain that the production target has shifted from about 200,000 tonnes sugar at the beginning of the year, to around 175,000 tonnes sugar in or around July, 2017, and which most likely will be about 150,000 tonnes when production ceases at year-end.

GuySuCo then says that our correspondences are dealt with professionally. Maybe it is that GuySuCo has re-defined the word. We say this taking into account that our correspondence of September 21 to the company’s CEO regarding the payment of wages on September 22 was not even acknowledged. We further wish to remind the company’s spokesperson that the Union’s claim about improving workers’ pay and conditions and benefits remains unaddressed at this point in time, in stark violation of the timelines set out in the Recognition and the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes Agreement.

We say this because letters concerning workers’ matters some weeks old remain unanswered. We wonder where is the professionalism that the GuySuCo spokesperson speaks about. Quite clearly, it seems that the word professionalism has taken on a new meaning in GuySuCo’s context.

We are then accused of encouraging workers to engage in work stoppages. Again, it seems that the Corporation has fallen off its rocker. Many of those stoppages GuySuCo speaks of occur in the early morning hours, very much before our Union’s offices begin to operate. One wonders how we can encourage a stoppage when we are not even aware of the situation. Moreover, why would a worker, wake up in the wee hours of the morning and have his wife wake up even earlier than him to prepare his meals, just to go to work to resort to strike. But that is exactly what the Corporation is seeking to say. t seems rationality has completely departed the Corporation’s mindset. The fact that the workers are forced to engage in work stoppages obviously speaks to the pressures they face when they must confront weedy, vine-infested, and grassy fields which require much greater efforts on their part, and then have to contend with an arrogant attitude as they seek to obtain reasonable payments for the additional work they are required to undertake.

GAWU is then charged with impacting “production and productivity and the security of employment”. But is it the GAWU that is proposing to close and sell-out estates?

Is it the GAWU that is not applying inputs in a timely manner, or not applying inputs altogether, in some cases? Is it the GAWU that is making decisions to cease cane planting? Is it the GAWU that is making decisions on how finances should be allocated and spent? These decisions, policies and directions are not influenced, considered or approved by the GAWU, or the workers for that matter. We are not even told about them until they are implemented. How then can we be accused? But then again, as we have being saying, the Corporation has no concern or respect for its hard-working workers and their organisations.

The Corporation continues to speak glowingly about having partnership, but that’s all it does. It looks as if this talk of partnership is one based on its dictated terms and conditions. Such an approach cannot lend to success. GAWU, as it has said many times before now, is committed to good and positive relations with the sugar company. Such partnership must be founded on the bedrock of equality, mutual respect and understanding

PAGE EIGHT

GAWU says:

AFC’s new found voice too little, too late

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), from reports that appeared in several sections of the media, has recognized, surprisingly, a call by the junior coalition partner – the Alliance for Change (AFC) – for the Government that it is a part of to make decisive decisions regarding the sugar industry. We find it puzzling that the AFC has now resorted to calling on itself to make decisions. Maybe it is reflective of the ‘strength’ of that party’s voice in the Government.

Whatever is the case, the AFC, like Rip Van Winkle, has awoken from its deep slumber and is now seeking to portray itself in sympathy with sugar workers’ rights and concerns. While our Union recognizes that members are supportive of probably all the political outfits in the country - a choice we are respectful of we, at the same time, cannot allow an organization that sold itself as an ally of the workers to make what we see as clearly unconvincing statements.

To say the least, the AFC’s utterances were incredibly incredulous. We could not help but wonder whether the party’s leaders that drafted and finally approved the statement were the same individuals who occupy powerful seats in our country and ought to be playing no small role in the State’s decision-making. Those persons obviously, seemingly with their party’s unstinted support and blessing, would have contributed to, and approved, decisions and approaches regarding the sugar industry. Certainly, the AFC members firmly and strongly ensconced in the Government would have had an opportunity to make their views known on the closure and sellout of sugar estates. Those decisions, as is well known, will put thousands of workers on the breadline and push thousands more into an impoverished state. Similarly, those leaders would have spoken to deCOMBAT

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cisions to deny workers’ pay rises in 2015 and 2016 as well as Annual Production Incentive (API) payments last year. Their support is, seemingly wholehearted, of an IMC that is rolling back, withdrawing and disregarding long-standing practices, benefits and conditions birthed from the struggles of the sugar workers and the working-class, as a whole. Certainly, the age-old saying “actions speak louder than words” immediately and readily comes to mind.

We recall, on February 03, 2017 at the second consultative meeting on the Future of the Sugar Industry, our Union along with the PPP/C and the NAACIE strongly represented to the Government that a socio-impact assessment study was necessary to fully evaluate and be aware of the ramifications that would follow the sugar miniaturization plans. At that time, we were shockingly - and we would say boisterously - told by Vice President, Minister of Public Security and AFC Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, that the Government would not conduct such a study despite the creditable reasons for such an exercise. VP Ramjattan went on, further adding salt to the wounds, telling the Unions and the Opposition that if we felt so strongly about a study, that we (GAWU/NAACIE/PPP/C) should pursue the assignment.

Also coming to mind are statements made by Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, at the Rose Hall Martyrs Commemoration activity in March this year. In the March 16, 2017 Kaieteur News, under the headline “Guyana remembers Rose Hall Martyrs on 104th Anniversary” the PM is reported to have said “…that some sugar estates will have to be closed because all of the factories are not yielding the profits as expected”. The article also quotes the PM saying “…we can no longer treat the sugar industry as if it is a stone around our

neck; that sugar, as bad as its history has been, should [not[ be allowed to drag the entire nation down”.

It is patently clear from what the party’s leaders were saying not-too-long-ago that they fully embraced the plans for the sugar industry.

They were going as far as defending and justifying the sad decisions that were taken. It would not be a stretch to imagine that the trappings of the political office would have pushed the party to lend such support and in that process completely disregard what it told the sugar workers and their families during the 2011 and 2015 National Elections campaign. Now, after two and a half years, the rubber has hit the road and the AFC has shifted gear, apparently conveniently.

We see the political party calling basically on itself to approve severance pay to workers who have been made redundant or will be made redundant from the miniaturization of the sugar industry. For an organization which has a fair bit of lawyers in its hierarchy, it ought to be aware that severance pay is not optional, but is a lawful, legal entitlement. There are no ifs, buts and maybes involved; it is a matter that is as clear as day, and there needs to be respect of the law.

We hope the AFC, in light of its call, will use its new-found voice to ensure the state-owned GuySuCo honours its obligations to the workers of Wales who have been denied their severance pay to finally receive their entitled payments.

We are reminded that VP Ramjattan, according to a news story titled “Wales sugar workers storm out of ministers’ outreach” which appeared in the March 18, 2017 Kaieteur News, is reported to have told the Wales workers in relation to their demand for severance that “… the government has no money to offset this

expense...”. On this matter, the GAWU is aware that the workers, in July, 2017, sought the intervention of President David Granger to bring resolution to the matter. The President, in early August, 2017, responded to the workers, advising that they would hear from Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder – an AFC member. To date, the workers have not heard a word from the Minister, but in light of the AFC’s declaration, certainly they should have high-expectations to receive their payments at last.

The AFC has also called for the displaced workers to be given lands to engage presumably in farming, as well as to receive financial and marketing support in this regard. On the surface, this sounds reasonable. But for the GAWU, this song has been played very often. Minister Holder, in a Demerara Waves article entitled “Meeting with Wales Estate workers erupts into ruckus over severance pay; govt details sugar diversification plan”, on March 17, 2017, is reported to have said “that land would be leased to employees by October, 2017 to shift them into becoming farmers”. October, 2017 has come and gone and not one inch of land was leased to the ex-Wales workers, while suffering, desperation, misery and hardtimes grip the people and the communities. Clearly it is difficult for our Union and the workers to take the AFC’s utterances at face value and with any sincerity.

Whatever are the motivation/s for the AFC’s new-found voice of reason and concern, the workers are fully aware of the truth and the sad realities that have beset them and their families. The circumstances they face today, and also surely in the future, in all likelihood would have been engineered by the Administration that the AFC is a part of. We see this belated appearance of sincerity to be nothing more than a poor and sorrowful attempt to add confusion to sugar workers and their families in their given plight. We wish to remind the AFC that “once bitten, twice shy”.

Representatives from the various estates along with GAWU’s leadership and a delegation from NAACIE on November 09, 2017 met with GuySuCo begin negotiations for 2017.

PAGE NINE

The October Revolution and the gains of the working-people This centennial anniversary of the October Revolution has great significance for the working people all over the world. The 1917 Revolution and the establishment of the first socialist country, the Soviet Union, was a new beginning not just for Russia, but for the entire world. The conditions for the revolution grew out of the suffering to which the imperialist war subjected the masses of Russia and all of Europe.

The Russian Revolution also opened up a century of struggle for socialism, for revolution, and for solidarity with the national liberation struggles throughout Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. It was the precursor to the Chinese and Cuban revolutions, other revolutions, and all of the chapters of a century of worldwide class struggle against capitalism and all forms of oppression.

The Russian Revolution convinced millions of people in every part of the world that another world is possible. It demonstrated, for the first time in history, that exploitation of man by man can become a matter of the past and that working people can become the master of their own destinies. While elaborating the role and functions of trade unions after establishment of a socialist State, Comrade Lenin pointed out the following tasks: 1. The trade unions should help to staff all the State business and administrative bodies connected with economies: nominate their candidates for them, stating their length of service, experience, and so forth.

2. One of the most important functions of the trade unions is to promote and train factory managers from among the workers and the masses of working people generally.

3. The trade unions must take a far greater part in the activities of all the planning bodies of the proletarian state – in drawing up economic plans, and also in programmes of production and expenditure of stocks of material supplies for the workers….”

4. The drawing up of scales of wages and supplies etc. is one of the essential functions of the trade unions in the building of socialism and in their participation in management of industry.

THE REVOLUTION MAKES AN IMPACT In the first Five Year Plan, which commenced in 1928, the number of workers employed in large scale industries increased by 57 per cent, while the national income increased by 85 per cent. The average annual wages of the workers in the large scale industries increased by 67 per cent, while the social insurance fund rose by 292 per cent. Thus all fruits of economic development were enjoyed by the working people, who contributed in this development.

Average annual wages of the workers in 1928 stood at 991 roubles, which rose to 1,519 roubles in 1933. Even in the rural areas, women were given prominence as in industrial areas. In 1933, 6,000 women collective farmers COMBAT

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were chairpersons of collective farms, while more than 60,000 were member of management boards of collective farms.

The advancement of socialist system continued to improve the living standards of the working class in the Soviet Union. During 1933 to 1938, the national income of USSR increased by more than double, while the number of workers and employees increased from 22 million in 1933 to 28 million in 1938. The average annual earning of workers increased from 1,519 roubles in 1933 to 3,447 roubles in 1938. The State expenditure on Social and cultural services increased by 6 times during 1933 to 1938. In 10 years alone, the earning of workers increased by more than three and a half times, while the social funding from the states increased more than that.

THE GAINS OF THE WORKING CLASS The Right to work as a fundamental right was enshrined in the Constitution of the Soviet Union. To ensure this right, the Government of USSR undertook a massive programme of construction of housing, afforestation, and construction of roads throughout the country. The main thrust was, however, on development of modern industrial base. The Soviet Government achieved in three five-year plans what took the USA more than 50

years.

The massive programme of rural electrification which covered one-sixth of the globe was a remarkable achievement of USSR, and provided jobs to a large number of workers. For the first time in the history of the world, a country had emerged without any unemployment. No capitalist country could provide this prior to the October Revolution, or even after dismantling of socialism in USSR. The Soviet Government could offer to every worker a residential accommodation, electricity connection, and water facilities at a cost of only 4-5 per cent of the wages of a worker. By paying only 10 kopecs, a worker could go anywhere in Moscow city. Such cheap transport facility could not be provided to the working class by any capitalist government in the world.

The Soviet Government made education free to all the children of workers up to the graduate level. All workers were covered free of cost by the State-funded medical insurance scheme, and no fee was charged for any type

of medical assistance to the workers. Every worker was covered by old age pension scheme after retirement.

A five-day week was introduced for all the industrial workers, while in hazardous industries, seven-hour day was introduced by the Soviet Government. Annual leave was also extended up to one month per year of service for several categories of workers. And women were allowed entry in all occupations, and no discrimination was practised at the workplace. Many women were working as chief executives in the factory, and showing good performance.

TODAY’S CIRCUMSTANCES Today, as we celebrate, capitalists pray that the fight for socialist revolution ended with the Soviet Union. It is up to us and millions like us to affirm that it did not, and that it must not. This is not dreaming; it is cold, calculating realism. We believe that capitalism has reached an unprecedented stage in the process of dying. Any hope that capitalism can be reformed and made more humane is also dying, as it surely must.

From the perspective of the working-class movement and the struggle of the oppressed, ultimately this is a reality that can’t be ignored much longer. This reality pushes the class struggle and the global struggle against capitalism into a new phase. The capitalists can no longer pretend that their system can meet the needs of the people. All of the lies and illusions about the wonders of capitalism are crashing, in prelude to the system itself crashing.

Let’s make the anniversary of October 1917 the occasion to restart, in a serious and meaningful way, the perspective of socialist revolution.

It’s a perspective that has been far too weak for far too long. This anniversary is a good time to remind the world that there is a future beyond this terrible system. Moreover, that future is not another 100 years away.

People who are alive today will help bury capitalism in the graveyard of history.

There are promising signs. Capitalism is more and more hated with every passing hour. Among the youths of the world, socialism is more popular than capitalism. And many of these youths are rising up. Women are also visible in the leadership of the rebellion. This bodes well for the future. It is a sign of the transformation of the working class. It’s revolutionary, and it must go forward and be defended.

Capitalism has always threatened the health of the masses. Now that the system is in an advanced state of decay, its existence is a daily assault on every aspect of our well-being, our identities, and our social relationships. We must work deliberately to build a culture of solidarity as part of the struggle and as a necessity for our very survival.

This month also marks the 50th anniversary of Che Guevara’s martyrdom. Che once said that “at the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.”

May Che’s words inspire us all to take a step forward into the future.

PAGE TEN

PM’s Region #6 reps haste to claim fame says a lot about his character

Our Union – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) – as a responsible organization, wishes to respond to Mr Gobin Harbhajan’s letter entitled “Thanking GAWU, PPP, Jagdeo for making me a household name” which appeared in the October 14, 2017 Guyana Chronicle and in the October 15, 2017 Kaieteur News under the title “PM’s Berbice representative challenges PPP on Skeldon factory”. The PM’s Region #6 Representative, in the latest letter under his name, claimed our Union and the PPP made him famous and well-known in the Region. We find this statement interesting, and wonder what he was doing in the two (2) plus years as the PM’s rep prior to his new-found fame. Was it a case of him just twiddling his thumbs? We certainly hope not, given the extravagant package it is said he benefits from.

Mr Harbhajan then goes on to say that the Opposition Leader has accepted privatization of the sugar industry, pointing out that the gentleman has called for transparent arrangements regarding the sale of Skeldon Estate. While Mr Jagdeo is more than capable of responding on his own, we believe it is wicked to make such a misleading inference. GAWU has also called for the sale of Skeldon, if it is pursued, to be above-board and fully transparent, especially given the harping by GuySuCo about inefficiencies and costs.

But that does not mean we are supportive of the sale. We remain staunchly opposed to the sale and closure of any estate for reasons we have outlined in our responses to Mr Harbhajan’s previous letters appearing in the press. Nevertheless, we recognize that if this is the course the Government will run into pigheadedly, the arrangements - given the scope and value of the asset we are selling - should ensure that the process is open and above reproach.

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We are then told about Mr Harbhajan’s achievements. Oh what a list it is: the construction of a road, and assisting Berbicians to engage Government agencies and officials towards resolving their problems. Mr Harbhajan, these are your responsibilities as a Regional Councillor.

Similar feats have been achieved by several of your predecessors without them boasting or claiming a fanciful title or receiving superb benefits and allowances you enjoy. But you know what they say about empty barrels, Mr Harbhajan.

Finally, the PM’s Rep speaks about the dumping of cane juice at Skeldon, which he says our Union was aware of. This, again, is wholly untrue. Prior to Mr Harbhajan’s belated announcement in a recent edition of the Kaieteur News, the GAWU was never made aware of such an occurrence. Moreover, GuySuCo, at its October 13 press conference, according to the October 15, 2017 Kaieteur News, denied Mr Harbhajan’s assertion. Also, we find it odd that Mr Harbhajan, having knowledge of the dumping of cane juice since December, 2016, according to what is reported in the Kaieteur News, only chose to come forward in September, 2017, ten months later. This is strange, especially given the hullaballoo he is making on the issue. Certainly, given the ‘active’ approach he says he is taking towards matters which come to his attention, his response is sorely lacking here.

The PM’s Region #6 man’s haste to claim fame says a lot about him as a person and a leader. He should also know that his fame may not turn out to be a good thing for him, and history has recorded such experiences of infamous persons. History will ultimately judge Mr Harbhajan and his colleagues’ notoriety for their role in minimizing sugar and pushing thousands of Guyanese to impoverishment and misery.

Workers’ turnout a smokescreen

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) refers to an article titled “Sugar sliding to worst performance in years as workers stay away” appearing in October 05, 2017 edition of the Kaieteur News. The article confirms, in some way, the Union’s conclusion that sugar production this year will be the lowest since 1990, when 129,920 tonnes were produced. For the GAWU, this is indeed troubling, especially when the industry would have received billions from the Treasury since June, 2015, and a further $2B through the sale of lands to the State. It speaks a lot of the efficiency of the Corporation’s IMC. The article posits that the reason for the poor output is related to workers’ turnout, which is stated to be around 60 per cent for the second crop thus far. We see this sordid conclusion as another stop along the ignominious road being taken by the GuySuCo hierarchy and its cheerleaders to shift blame for their poor stewardship to the hard-working sugar workers. This is most obscene and derisive.

The lamentations about workers’ turnout are a complete 180 degree reversal from what GuySuCo was saying a few weeks ago. We recall that the Corporation’s Senior Communications Officer spoke ecstatically about improved turnout during the second crop.

In reflecting on turnout too, it would be remiss if we failed to take account of improvements of workers’ productivity through mechanisation. Through the use of the semi-mechanical cane loaders more commonly called Bell loaders, workers’ productivity is doubled. And at Skeldon, the mechanical cane harvesters have been very helpful in augmenting production and productivity. It seems that the story should end with popular

saying ‘talk half and lef half ’.

In speaking to workers’ turnout too, it must not be forgotten that field workers are not offered work 52 weeks per year. In fact, now-a-days, crop weeks may be just around 30 weeks per annum. It therefore means that for just about half of the year, they are not gainfully employed and have to seek alternative employment whenever and wherever it is practicable to take up. This notion cannot be disconnected from workers’ commitment and resolve.

Also, we should not fail to consider that, when taken together workers must now confront an unfriendly and arrogant management and purchase in the market at 2017 prices with 2014 wages. It doesn’t take an expert to imagine what that would do to workers’ morale.

The aforementioned article also, for whatever reason, does not take into account the state of the industry’s cultivation. Cane yields are very poor and not in keeping with budgeted figures, and are far from the potential of GuySuCo. This is the real and primary reason, GAWU contends, for the poor production that will be realized this year, not poor labour turnout as the article wants everyone to believe. An examination of the data would be revealing, and would serve as an eye opener for many.

We see the excuse of workers’ turnout as nothing more than a mere smokescreen meant to distract, deceive, and dupe many unwitting Guyanese. The anticipated low sugar production this year will undoubtedly be as a result of poor cane yield caused by gross mismanagement of the Company.

PAGE ELEVEN

Former Wales workers facing difficult times families needs. This is contributing to heightened anxieties and stress, and giving rise to even further challenges in many households.

For our colleague cane cutters, they continue to demand that their right to severance pay is respected and honoured.

Disturbingly, the Government and the GuySuCo continue to push our comrades-in-arms to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate. Such an approach is not in keeping with the relevant laws.

We are aware that the Ex-Wales workers, earlier this year, picketing outside of the Office of the President, calling on GAWU has challenged the Government to intervene in resolving their severance pay dispute.

GuySuCo in court on The following is a statement that was presented by Gorthis matter. Disappointdon Thomas on behalf of the former Wales Estate work- ingly, several months have gone by and a date for the ers at a press conference held at the GAWU head office hearings to commence is yet to be fixed. Given the sigon October 10, 2017:nificance and importance of the matter, and the num“We come to you here on behalf of the thousands of ber of lives which are impacted, we expected that such a ordinary, hard-working Guyanese who have been affect- matter would have been given high priority. ed by the demise of Wales Estate nearly a year ago. For We also are aware that a large number of cane cutters, many of us, working at Wales is the only thing we have noting that GuySuCo was owned by the state, in the ever known. We have grown up knowing the estate as late-July, 2017, appealed to President David Granger the major employer in our communities. For a lot of us, to intervene to have their severance pay matter settled. we have followed our parents and grandparents in work- The President responded to the workers in early August, ing in the fields and factory of Wales; and for some of 2017, informing that he had referred the matter to Agrius, our children and grandchildren have also followed culture Minister Noel Holder for his attention, and that us in working at the estate. We had high expectations the workers would hear from the ‘goodly’ Minister. Upthat, like the many that came before us, we would have settingly, more than two (2) months have gone by and worked until pensionable age, giving our best years and the workers are yet to hear a word from Minister Holder. efforts to the estate, the sugar industry, and our country. For us, it seems that the Minister can least be bothered Today, the sad reality is that the Government and the by the workers’ concerns, and probably is unmoved by Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) have forcibly the plight they and their families face. Nevertheless, we taken our livelihoods from us. In that process, they have believe that the President, as the Head of State, owes the sought to take away our dignity and our pride. We have workers concerned a proper response. had our dreams shattered and our hopes for a better toWe also recall, when the sad closure announcement morrow dashed. Today, the communities of Wales are a far cry from what they were just a year ago. For us, this year (2017) has been a time filled with misery, difficulty, and depression. It pains us that communities and people that were once so vibrant, happy and joyful are now forced to contend with greater unemployment, crime, destitution, misery, staring poverty, and other anti-social behaviours.

Many of us have been unable to find jobs. And for those of us who received severance pay, those pitiful sums are quickly drying up as we face rising living costs to meet life’s basic necessities. Even the handful of workers who had purchased vehicles for hire, they now are forced to sell them, having found a saturated market with less and less passengers. Certainly, the grave situation will grow graver in the weeks and months ahead, and the people Several sections of the media reported on Minister of will find themselves caught between a rock and a hard State Joseph Harmon’s statement that some seventy (70) place.

Even in those few instances where some of our col- unsolicited expressions of interest were received by the leagues have managed to secure jobs, they confront the Sugar Special Purpose Unit (SPU) in recent times. For real situation of less wages or reduced work opportuni- the GAWU, it is not surprising that such a large number ties. The miserable situation has taken its toll on family of expressions has been received, as it serves, no less, to life as well. Breadwinners are not able to fully meet their indicate that our Union’s view that all the estates can be

was made, the Government and GuySuCo sought to soften the devastating blow by telling us that Wales would be transitioned. We were told that ventures involving aquaculture, dairy and beef cattle, livestock, orchards, rice, among other things, would be established at Wales. Some of us held out hope that we would have been employed in the touted ventures. But like so many other things, we heard and were told about, those hopes were dashed. Besides a small area of paddy, absolutely nothing else has been done. Also, we heard that the paddy experiment failed terribly, with GuySuCo getting less than half the amount of paddy that an average farmer would receive. This is not good news for the people nor for GuySuCo. It seems that talk about transition was a sad attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of the Guyanese people.

For the cane farmers, the situation is equally as terrible.

Many farmers who had invested large sums in the farms have been forced to abandon their plots. The road to take the farmers’ canes from as far as Free and Easy, several miles south of the Wales factory, to Uitvlugt Estate is yet to begin. It seems that the promised all-weather road is proverbially a pie in the sky ,and many farmers remain clueless as to their next move. Even the gantry to facilitate the discharge of farmers’ cane at Uitvlugt remains incomplete. Some of those components which were removed from Wales some months ago remain neatly packed on the ground near to the Uitvlugt factory. We wonder whether GuySuCo was really serious about what it was saying, or if it was a case of a promise being a comfort to a fool.

The situation for the people and the villages linked to Wales Estate remains bleak and uncertain. It is steadily growing worse, and suffering is growing by the day. The future for the people, especially the youth, is not encouraging. It is difficult for us to imagine the hardships that would befall the people in the weeks and months that lie ahead. Many of us wonder every day if this is the ‘Good Life’ we were promised. In this sad time, we call on the Government, as the protector of the people, to provide appropriate financial support to allow us to face up to our challenges and to overcome the difficulties brought about by the sad and wrong decision to close Wales Estate.”

Gov’t should re-evaluate GuySuCo’s advice

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made viable and sustainable is realistic and possible.

But the Minister’s admission undoubtedly casts a dark light on the advice that the Administration has been receiving from what we understand is a highly-rewarded GuySuCo IMC. We wonder if the Government does not find it strange that so many are advising that they can make the estates viable but GuySuCo is saying it cannot, moreso when the Corporation possess so much institutional knowledge and experience. Clearly, an objective, rational person would see there is something that doesn’t meet the eye.

While heartened by the expressions received, the GAWU strongly believes that the industry could be saved as currently structured, though a different approach is required. We urge the Government to re-examine the advice it has received; since, from all indications, it was not genuine, and was maybe intended to further the nefarious ends of certain individuals.

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GAWU attends VII Assembly of Caribbean Peoples

Delegates attending one of the sessions of the VII ACP Conference

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), through its Assistant General Secretary Cde Aslim Singh, attended the VII Assembly of Caribbean Peoples (ACP) which was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from October 26 to 31, 2017. The Assembly was attended by seventy-three (73) delegates from twenty (20) countries in the Caribbean, South America and Central America, under the theme “Confronting the global crisis together we strengthen the movement for the integration of the Caribbean, sovereignty and the welfare of our peoples”.

The work of the Assembly was centred around five (5) plenaries which addressed:- Caribbean Integration and Alternatives to the Neo-Liberal Model and the Struggle against Debt Domination; “Implications for the Caribbean of the new offensive by the right wing and imperialism against progressive change in Latin America; Colonialism, Militarisation, Cultural Imperialism, Identity in the Caribbean and Reparations; Food Sovereignty, Agrarian Reform, Climate Change in the Caribbean, Decent housing, labour rights and the struggles of social movements for the conquest and

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken note of the announcement by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, of the Government’s decision to impose pay rises for employees in the public service for the third consecutive year. The workers, according to the Minister, depending on their income, will receive increases of between 8 per cent and 0.5 per cent since that’s all the Government could afford.

Our Union finds the Government’s expressed rationale insincere. We believe that with more prudent spending and less extravagance and unnecessary expenditure, much more could have been found to give the workers. In recent times, we have seen the multi-million dollar rental of a condom bond; the billion-dollar-plus expenditure on glorified drill square; the ‘greening’ of Government buildings and complexes; the erection of Great Wall of China-like fences; frequent non-essential travel by high-ranking Government officials; and chariot-like luxurious vehicles for certain officials, among other things.

The GAWU strongly contends that the

workers, especially those at the lower end, are deserving of much more substantial pay hikes. Now-a-days they must contend with lesser disposable income and heavier burdens arising from the series of tax measures which have negatively impacted their and their families standard-of-living. We are very disheartened, too, that the Government, despite its clear-as-day commitment to respect and observe Collective Bargaining in the public sector, has chosen to forcefully impose its will on public servants. The posture adopted smacks of clear disrespect of our Constitution, our laws, and relevant ILO conventions which have long been ratified by our country.

We see the engagement with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as mere theatrics, meant to convey an impression of engagement. The Administration’s advisors need to tell those in charge that there is a Grievance Procedure which clearly sets out the modus operandi in cases of breakdown and deadlock at the bilateral level. Furthermore, besides the GPSU, several other unions, including

defense of the rights of our peoples, and Migration, Free Movement of People and Issues affecting our Caribbean Diaspora.

Cde Aslim, during the plenaries, made several interventions, and among other things, called to attention the rising tensions in the world today and the threat of nuclear conflagration. He also pointed to the destruction and harrowing death toll, as well as the massive refugee crisis playing out. The GAWU Assistant General Secretary noted that Latin America and the Caribbean have not escaped the grave, meddlesome, destablisation schemes of imperialism, as he reflected on attacks against the Venezuelan Government and people. On the issue of climate change, the GAWU representative noted that the Caribbean and the US are at present a living example of the consequences of climate change. He went on to say that the region has been devastated, ravaged, and badly affected by fierce storms, and people have been dislocated, infrastructure crumbled, lives lost; damages are in the billions.

He also shared with Conference the situation in Guyana, and highlighted that over the past two (2) years, we have been experiencing an all-round aggravated situation, manifested by racial and political discrimination, the undermining of democracy, a deteriorating economic situation, and pursuit of policies that

are sending thousands of workers on the breadline, especially in the sugar industry and the private sector. Cde Aslim also touched on the attacks by the Government on our institutions charged with upholding our democratic culture, and the fears about free and fair elections in the future.

The Assembly ended on a high note, as delegates resolved to reject and continue the struggle against the neoliberal economic model. The delegates also strongly upheld that climate change is real, and it is an existential threat to all peoples of the Caribbean and the world. The Assembly also reaffirmed their commitment to support alternative integration projects, particularly the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Trade Treaty of the Peoples (ALBA - TCP), PetroCaribe and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). On Venezuela, the Assembly committed to defend the Bolivarian Revolution and to demand the unconditional lifting of the US blockade against Cuba.

The Assembly was indeed a success; it saw the participation of nearly all delegates, who expressed the need for developing a concrete plan of action and struggle against imperialism, neo-colonialism, plunder of resources, climate change; as well as to safeguard our rich history and culture.

GAWU, represent workers employed

by State agencies. Our Union hasn’t had an opportunity to engage the respective agencies with respect to the proposals.

While the Government has approved pay rises amounting to 28 per cent over three years to its workers, if we go by the Administration’s yardstick, it still represents just a little over half of what the Cabinet members received a few days after they assumed office. That magnificent increase also has to be taken together with the several benefits and superb allowances enjoyed, including the recently contracted Medical Insurance which has seen State officials enjoying treatment in exotic places like Ireland. It is opportune to recall the discontinuance of the Specialty Hospital in Guyana.

But while it is said we should be thankful for the little mercies, our nation’s hardworking sugar workers remain left in the cold. These workers, who face similar circumstances and realities as other workers, continue to receive pay rates last updated in 2014. They have suffered tremendously when account is taken of nominal and

real declines in their income. If GuySuCo’s Black Friday press encounter admission is taken into account, the workers, between 2015 and 2016 have seen their earnings declining by not less than 20 per cent. This is a substantial decline in such a short period, and one which has brought about tremendous hardship for them and their spouses and their children. Our Union, several weeks ago, submitted our proposals to the GuySuCo, and beyond a mere acknowledgement, we are yet to hear from the state-owned enterprise though clear timelines are set out in our Collective Labour Agreement.

The GAWU, at this time, calls on the Administration to ensure that the naked and glaring discrimination comes to an end.

We seek that the sugar workers benefit, like their compatriots in other sectors of the State’s employ, from a reasonable pay rise, which could be reached without further delay at the bargaining table.

Public sector pay rise imposition disturbing

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PAGE THIRTEEN

FITUG is:

Concerned that dark and painfu The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has been keenly following events and happenings in our country. FITUG affiliates represent Guyanese from all walks and all shades of life, and they are all equally yearning to adequately provide for their families, to meet their obligations, and to ensure that their children have brighter and better tomorrows. It is with this in mind that we have sought to play a meaningful role in our society, to ensure that the rational expectations and desires of our members and their dependents can be realized.

The GECOM Chairman ‘appointment’

As we seek betterment and development, the FITUG recognizes that a key ingredient is a functioning and healthy democracy, buttressed by the regular conduct of elections which are free and fair and free of fear. In such circumstances, our electoral institutions, we hold, must be above reproach, and must be able to withstand any and all scrutiny in the conduct and in the organization of the polls. As we pointed out in our statement on this matter, it was unbelievable that President David Granger took a decision to unilaterally appoint a Chairman to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The ‘nuclear option’ approach taken by the President has heightened tensions and evoked anxieties in the populace. While the President has sought to shelter under the Chief Justice’s ruling, we believe there is not much, if anything, to hide behind.

Given our electoral history, such anxieties, we believe, are not unjustified. We recognize that several organisations and individuals have also offered condemning views of the President’s action. We reiterate our strongly held view that the President’s decision was unconstitutional and cannot advance the steady progress we recorded over the last quarter-century in the development of a democratic culture. This does not augur well for our people and the President himself. We once again wish to express our strongest condemnation.

The pay rise imposition in the Public Service The Federation was also very upset when it learnt that the Government imposed pay rises for workers in the public sector for the third consecutive year. The APNU/ AFC Government, in its manifesto, committed itself to ensuring that the Collective Bargaining process was employed in arriving at wage/salary increases and other improvements in the public sector. This was a sentiment that was expressed on several occasions by officials in the Administration. It is therefore disconcerting that the Government has once again employed such a high-handed approach, and in that process, undermined COMBAT

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the credibility of its commitments. Furthermore, this imposition approach runs contrary to our Trade Union Recognition Act, the Constitution of Guyana, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions. It also does not send a positive message to other employers in our nation.

We cannot also fail to express our concern over the quantum of the pay rises approved. For those at the bottom end, their salaries will rise by $4,445 from $55,555 to $60,000 per month, having benefitted from an 8 per cent rise; however, those at the top, who receive $800,000 per month for instance, will see their salary going up by $40,000 arising from their 0.5 per cent pay hike.

Though we accept that all workers deserve higher wages/salaries, it is those at the lower end who are in greater need. It is the low-earning workers that find difficulties to put meals on the table, to send their children to school, to pay their bills, to afford medical care and medication, to have adequate shelter and the basic comforts of life, and to meet life’s basic necessities.

Budget 2018 As we reflect on the now-a-day pressures confronting the working people, the FITUG is also aware, from press reports, that Budget 2018 will be presented in the latter part of November, 2017. This is the second year that the Budget will be presented before the commencement of the financial year. It also means that the 2017 full year economic performance would not be taken into account in setting 2018’s targets and objectives. The FITUG recognizes, from the 2017 mid-year report, that an early budget, despite the Administration’s utterances, did not make much of a difference, with 28 per cent having been expended as at June 30, 2017. The slow implementation is not in the workers’ interests, as sums earmarked for their benefit may not be reaching them in 2017, as was promised. It also means that the Government, as the largest single consumer in the country, is unable to have allocated funds finding its way in the economy, which is needed at this time of a generally recognized economic slowdown.

On Budget 2018, our Federation, at the Ministry of Finance’s invitation, put forward several proposals aimed at easing the burdens which have been placed on the workers’ backs. Among other things, FITUG called for improvement in the income tax threshold along with the removal of the 1/3 income tax threshold of those earning above $180,000 per month. We also sought improvements in the sums paid as Old Age Pensions and Public Assistance, while we called for the re-introduction of the

electricity and water subsidies for pensioners. We asked the Administration to consider a special income support mechanism for the ex-Wales Estate workers, to hold its hands on its plans for sugar, to engage all stakeholders in finding a meaningful and accepted solution, as well as to pursue a socio-economic study of the industry.

The Federation recognized, too, that Government needed to examine the way to deliver its functions, in order to promote an efficiently functioning bureaucracy.

Better allocation and more proper utilization of resources, we opined, could also be realised through consolidation of services across the Government in an effort to save monies. The FITUG urged that the Government looks at the utilization of technology, as far as practicable, in delivering state services. We also called on the Government to consider actively the consolidation of services such as printing and stationery, refuse collection, vehicle maintenance, public relations, computer purchasing, servicing and maintenance, and other such ancillary functions and services in specialized Government departments, or through tendering to capable and reputable agencies. We also urged that tax exemptions and write-offs be provided to private enterprises be predicated on job creation and aligned with national development goals.

The sugar industry We are aware, too, of the acute difficulties which are confronting the 16,000-plus workers employed in the sugar industry. Those hardworking, dedicated, and committed workers have not benefitted from a pay rise since 2014. Moreover, other benefits have been curtailed or taken away altogether, like their Annual Production Incentive (API). For us of the FITUG, it is saddening that such an unconscionable approach has been taken to this significant segment of the State’s workers.

We are aware of the manifold contributions sugar made in its better times, and still makes today notwithstanding its challenges. Sugar, and undoubtedly its workforce, literally rescued our country and its people in the difficult times, and carried the nation on its back for a long time. The unthankful and unappreciative approach adopted by the Administration, we believe, is spiteful and harmful.

Furthermore, we are very disturbed that the Administration is seemingly proceeding in an obstinate and hasty manner to miniaturize the industry with further estate closures and estate divestment. Thousands of workers will be put on to the breadline, joining several thousands who have been put there since the change in the Administration. We find it heartless that the Government would take such an approach, especially knowing PAGE FOURTEEN

ul times are down the road the sad situation that unfolded following the decision to close Wales Estate at the end of 2016. The FITUG holds that all is not lost in the sugar industry, and its fortunes can be turned around. We are aware of several implementable initiatives which can be pursued, and which will play a meaningful role in safeguarding the industry, protecting the well-being of thousands of Guyanese and at the same time further assisting in diversifying our economy and reach our Green Economy objectives.

The FITUG stands in total disagreement with the State’s plans for the sugar industry. We contend it will bring about great difficulty, severe hardships, and massive upset in the sugar belt which undoubtedly will spill over into the wider society. The Federation wishes to note that sugar workers are not aliens, but they are Guyanese who are making a contribution to our country, and deservedly should be assisted by the State.

the loud promotion of the oil sector by the Administration, we believe the Exxon contract is a document that all Guyanese need to be aware of. We, at this time, join in the call for the Government to release the contract to the public.

The oil industry

At this time, the FITUG recalls that the recent amendments to the Broadcasting Act evoked a firestorm of criticism. We recognized that several voices locally and internationally have expressed deep concern over the amendments to the act.

FITUG similarly is bothered by the nature of the amendments especially what we believe is the draconian requirement for legally-licensed operators to re-apply for licenses which they are not guaranteed that they will receive. This, we believe, could set a dangerous precedent, and undermines the right to have a Free Press, an achievement that was won out of the struggle of the Guyanese people.

Furthermore, the demand that certain time be set aside for State programming is disturbing and could be seen as an attempt to impose the Government’s view on our citizens. The Federation sees this as unnecessary, especially given the reach of the Government’s radio and television channels, its possession of its own newspaper, as well as its large public relations bureaucracy. We hold that if the State is desirous of having its programming appearing on private broadcasters’ television and radio stations, it should be done on a strictly business basis.

While seemingly the Administration has turned its back on the sugar industry, it is actively nurturing and promoting the oil and gas industry as the next big thing.

FITUG holds that oil can both be a blessing and a curse.

Oil can unlock significant wealth which could propel Guyana’s development and our people’s standard of life in the years ahead. Such lofty aspirations, we hold, must be predicated on a clear, transparent and open approach to managing the industry and the income which accrues from its exploitation. We are aware of several oil-rich nations which have seen the oil wealth squandered and their people’s hope for the dawning of a better tomorrow dashed. Bearing also such realities in mind, we do not believe that oil expectations should be at the expense of other economic sectors. Rather they should be part of a wider effort to diversify and consolidate our economic foundation for the years and generations of Guyanese ahead.

As we reflect on the oil industry, FITUG cannot fail to express its apprehension that the contract inked with giant-multinational ExxonMobil has not yet been released.

It is disappointing that the Government has chosen to flimsily hide behind a certain section of our legislation concerning the petroleum industry. It speaks volumes about the openness and transparency the APNU/AFC coalition promised during the 2015 elections campaign.

We are aware that Exxon’s spokespersons have said that the Company is not averse to having the contract released. It therefore leads us to suspect there may be something related to that deal that the Government does not want the Guyanese people to know of. Given COMBAT

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The amendments to the Broadcasting Act

The procurement of goods and services We have recognized that the Government in recent times has found itself attracting criticism in the procurement of goods and services as it pursues its objectives. We recall, for instance, the sole-sourcing of drugs at high costs for the Georgetown Public Hospital or the controversy that revolved around the feasibility study for the new Demerara Bridge, or the infamous Sussex Street Drug Bond. These incidents and others, in our view, serve to demonstrate that the people’s monies aren’t been efficiently and effectively utilized. They also gives credence to the notion that the awarding of certain contracts amount to payback for electoral campaign support. We are aware that some of these matters are under investigation or have been investigated by the Procurement Commission, but we believe that the glaring mis-steps by the Administration need not have occurred at all.

The Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board It may be recalled that the Federation, on the appoint-

ment of the re-constituted Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board in the latter part of 2015, expressed its deep concern over the manner in which the Board was constituted. At that time, FITUG had pointed out that the identification of the Board’s Chairman did not follow the expressly set out mechanism in the Trade Union Recognition Act. We further contended that FITUG, as the larger of the two (2) trade union umbrella bodies, ought to be accorded two (2) seats on the Board, instead of the one (1) the Government set aside for it.

As a matter of principle, the Federation challenged in the High Court the legality of the Board’s composition, and did not take up the one (1) seat it was allocated. The matter was finally heard a few weeks ago, and the Court upheld FITUG’s contention. Justice Sandil Kissoon, who delivered his oral ruling on October 13, 2017 accepted arguments made by FITUG’s Attorney Ashton Chase, S.C. The Judge ruled that the Board was improperly constituted and that all decisions made by the Board are null and void. Furthermore, the Judge accepted FITUG’s position that it ought to be accorded two (2) seats on the Board.

We are indeed very pleased with the Judge’s ruling. The Federation could not have countenanced an illegality, and, therefore, our decision to seek the intervention of the Judiciary. We are looking forward to receiving the Judge’s written decision. We are also hopeful that the Government would abide by the ruling, as the life of the current Board will soon reach an end.

Conclusion We recognize that each of the issues we reflected on represents an important piece of the jigsaw puzzle and when put together, we do not like the picture that is appearing. We see that several years of progress could very likely be rolled back, and that the working-peoples and their families would be the most affected victims.

We call on the Administration to relook at its approach to national life and governance. There is a compelling body of evidence which warrants such a call. We remain committed to the goals of national development and allround progress. At the same time, we would not stand by silently and look on from the sidelines as our people’s rights are trampled upon and the foundations that emerged out of the people’s struggle over several years are chipped away. We believe it is our responsibility to raise our voice and to express our concern, not only on behalf of the thousands who belong to the Unions we represent, but all Guyanese as well. We, like the Government, are desirous of having a Good Life for All Guyanese.

PAGE FIFTEEN

GAWU welcomes decision to delay estate closures

GAWU’s leadership and representatives from Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales estates meeting with officials of the SPU and GuySuCo on November 14, 2017. At that meeting, we were advised that the SPU will assume responsiblity for the four (4) estates during 2018.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was pleased to learn recently that the Government has taken a decision to delay the closure of East Demerara and Rose Hall Estates until sometime in 2018. For the thousands who stood to be confronted by a life filled with uncertainty and misery following closure, the news must have been encouraging and relieving to some extent.

The decision, the GAWU notes from the media, was taken after it was determined that systems were yet to be put in place to address the well-being of the workers who stood to be affected. The admission confirmed what our Union and the workers have been saying for many months.

Nevertheless, we are heartened that the Government, in recognizing this reality even at this eleventh hour, has decided to postpone the closures.

Our Union, during a meeting on November 14, 2017 with representatives of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), learnt that the closure-slated estates would be taken over by the SPU. The Unit, in its interactions with GAWU, opined that there ought to be no haste to close the estates, and pointed out that with a different approach, the estates could be made viable, and in that process protect the large number of Guyanese who depend

on their operation. As the SPU seeks to pursue this course of action, the GAWU cannot fail to point out the strong need for the estate’s assets to remain intact.

This, we contend, is an important facet in lending and leading to success.

At this time, the GAWU sees the decision to postpone the closure as a first step in the right direction to safeguard and consolidate the sugar industry. We recognize that the Union’s and the workers’ sustained efforts to highlight and to call to attention the severe difficulties that would arise from estate closure was not lost on the Administration. We believe, it played a role in lending to the postponement.

While heartened by the recent news, the GAWU notes that we are not yet out of the woods. The difficulties occasioned and will be occasioned by closure have not yet disappeared, but have merely been kicked down the road. We strongly contend that closure is not in our nation’s interest. We remain hopeful that the Administration, in keeping with its stated effort to protect the workers, will decide to permanently postpone the closure of the estates, and allow Skeldon Estate, with its high earning co-generation facility, not to fall into private hands.

“Capitalist barbarism, crisis and Imperialist wars,

or socialism”

Political sound bytes and rhetoric will not solve problems facing the sugar industry The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) finds it necessary to offer a response to the October 17, 2017 editorial of Guyana Chronicle titled “Cease subverting the minds of cane cutters”. Recognizing that the editorial is representative of the paper’s official view on matters, we find the contents of October 17 editorial most disingenuous and containing more hearsay than fact.

We expected that the Chronicle, though state-owned, would seek to be more objective and less ‘political’ in its assertions and contentions. From the editorial’s language and insinuations, this sadly seems not to be the case.

While we hold no brief for the PPP/C which was also mentioned in the editorial, we cannot let the Chronicle spout inaccuracies and market them as gospel.

The editorial contends that the industry is in terminal decline as a result of mismanagement during the 23-year administration of the PPP/C. We find this to be absurd, and it seems that the Chronicle’s editors have been living under a rock. Had the Chronicle been out and about, the paper would have known that between 2002 and 2004, sugar production reached an average of 319,583 tonnes, the highest since 1978, and representative of a sharp recovery from an average production of 157,492 tonnes between 1988 and 1991 (both years inclusive). The Chronicle also would have known that sugar production in the last two (2) years had fallen as much as 25 per cent, assuming the 2017 target is realized. We contend, however, the realization of the 2017 target is far from realizable. Such decline has to be taken against the State support which the Chronicle called to attention. Certainly, if there is any era of “criminal mis-management” it has to be under the leadership of the current IMC and the sugar company’s top-heavy, high-cost support team.

GAWU is then accused of deceiving workers. We wonder where is the deception the Chronicle speaks of is. Were we being deceptive when we said thousands of workers would be pushed onto the breadline as a result of the State’s sugar plans? But GuySuCo said just days ago it would slash employment by about 7,000 workers. Or, is it that we were deceptive when we said that the closure and sellout of estates would bring about difficulty, hardship, and misery? But here again, we heard from the ex-workers of Wales, about a week and a half ago, about the trying times and harsh realities they now face. It’s often easy to criticize but not as easy to back-up those criticisms.

The editorial contends that the support provided to the sugar industry could

have been better spent elsewhere. We find this to be a most disheartening statement and it is disturbing that such an assertion would have been made in the first place.

It seems the Chronicle has forgotten about the billions the industry channeled to the Treasury as Sugar Levy between 1976 and 1996; or the massive sums paid over as taxes accruing from workers income, their consumption, and the industry’s profits; or the support, costing billions over the years, in preventing a large swathe of the coastal belt from being inundated in the rainy periods; or the sums saved by the public health sector as a result of the dispensaries managed by the industry; or the cost it bore to train thousands of Guyanese artisans whose skills have benefitted the economy and the country, among the many other contributions the sugar industry made to the country and Guyanese well-being.

We wish to remind the Chronicle that sugar workers and their families are Guyanese who live within the borders of Guyana. They, like any other Guyanese, are deserving of the support of the State in difficult times. The fact that the Chronicle dares to make such an incredulous assertion is reflective of the disdain that is held for sugar workers who have contributed so much to the nation.

Incidentally, has the Government taken into consideration the collateral damage that would arise from the displacement of thousands of workers? There would be enormous costs considering the loss of foreign exchange from a reduction of sugar exports; the significant dwarfing of the number of NIS contributors; the fall in income tax and VAT revenues and its budgetary implications; the cost in addressing the heightened criminal activities; the substantial economic and social costs that will arise from household problems which will likely come about, including family break-ups; the impairment of workers’ children education progress all of which are among the real and important factors that the Government has to consider. Putting the sugar industry right was the wise path and the correct choice rather than the selfish, partisan and destructive closure and sellout thrust.

The editorial goes on to tout the Corporation’s Alternative Livelihood Programme (ALP). While the effort, on the surface, seems to be admirable, we hold that the devil lies in the details. GAWU disappointingly is yet to be briefed by GuySuCo on the ALP and our knowledge is limited to what appears in the media.

Continued on page four (4)

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