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Current sugar impasse will require ‘extraordinary’ interventions-Dr Luncheon

Nov 25, 2010 News

The current impasse affecting the sugar industry and supported by the two unions, namely the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) will require extraordinarily interventions.
This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, who yesterday said that it is recognized that just political support and adding financial resources will not resolve the issues troubling the industry.
Dr Luncheon told media operatives yesterday during his post Cabinet press briefing that the industrial action did not help the considerable apprehension about the state of the industry particularly the 2010 performance.
He said that the records show that the administration provided a full range of support that the industry needed to meet the turnaround plan but is blaming the union for the failures.
Dr Luncheon maintains that the turnaround plan was and is a reasonable basis for short term revitalization of industry.
He said that Cabinet’s contention is not only the union, GAWU, is unsupportive but recent event illustrates the union’s attempt to frustrate the plan and its implementation so that the achievement of short term measures could be achieved.
He said that this is even more obvious with the union’s promotion of strike particularly with regard to the time and location of strike.
Dr Luncheon pointed out that the strikes and the withdrawal of labour play a significant role in the level of underachievement of 2010 targets particular with reference to productions.
The Cabinet Secretary said that the current situation is untenable and that the union is clearly out to frustrate the turnaround plan.
Dr Luncheon is of the opinion that the “sad reality is that we all would suffer …Lost production leads to lost earning…What benefit is that to workers and economy as a whole?”
He said that Cabinet is urging, given that so much depends on union cooperation and collaboration with the industry and with Government to realise the 2010 objectives, that the union “must consider the options and be more transparent with motives.”
When asked if the government has ever considered terminating the Collective Labour Agreement with GAWU and NAACIE, Dr Luncheon answered in the negative but pointed out that both GAWU and NAACIE have in the past breached it many times to the point that it does not seem as ‘hallowed”
Speaking to the discontent of workers across the board Dr Luncheon said that the existence of a Labour Ministry historically, recognize that successive administrations have paid attention to the state of affairs of workers.
This, he said, is specifically because of their contribution to the health of the economy.
He said that the Labour Ministry has been urged to “bring home to the union and employers and workers, Government’s concern about events that precipitate their resorts to strike.”
He said that there must be a more harmonious relationship between employees, workers and Government.

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