Op-Ed: 75 Years On: The struggle of the...

paid and forced to endure horrible living conditions on the estates. In addition, they wanted the union of their choice, the Guyana Industrial Workers Union, (GIWU), to represent them since they felt betrayed by the Man Power Citizen’s

Association, (MPCA) which was imposed. Their fair demands were ignored by the sugar producers who introduced drastic measures to force the workers back to the fields. That led to protest action, which was supported by the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

The killing of the five workers, who became known as the Enmore Martyrs, caused Dr. Jagan to pledge the dedication of his life to the cause of the Guy-

← FROM PAGE 18 anese people and to fight to free them from bondage and exploitation. Less than two years after, he founded the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) which led the struggles for independence, freedom and democracy. The Enmore Martyrs, along with the others, were simple sugar workers who wanted to live a better life and in the course of that, stood up the establishment for their rights. The struggles of the Enmore Martyrs, and the resultant gains, demand action to ensure that there is no regression. There can be no move backwards – our democracy, our right to have out vote for a government of our choice must be respected. The struggles of 75 years ago still resonate today.