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FITUG knocks Granger on sugar privatization plans
PNCR’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger
– questions whether it is a PNCR position
One of the country’s main union bodies, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), has taken issue with Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, Presidential Candidate of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), who signaled his intent to privatize sugar if his party wins the upcoming General Elections.
FITUG, yesterday, called for Brig. Granger to review his position and wondered whether the announcement was a personal statement or the position of the PNCR.
On Wednesday, the official appeared before top business leaders and in unveiling his plans for Guyana once he become President, Brig. Granger said that he was not inclined to have the state continue in sugar, the Guyana Oil Company or owning of media entities.
However, FITUG, whose support is mainly from the sugar-based workers, said that it is deeply concerned.
“As a responsible trade union grouping and a national institution of working-class orientation – FITUG respects the views of all candidates who would be President, whilst defending its right to disagree, strongly sometimes, with those views.”
According to the union body, Granger’s declared intention and policy of economic reform seems to be synonymous with the Washington Consensus which is so much discredited today and is wreaking havoc especially to the millions of ordinary people throughout the world.
“He is clear that he will divest the ownership and management of sugar from any state-associated entity. Under Granger, GuySuCo, as currently constituted, will go. FITUG, a highly concerned stakeholder, feels constrained to react to Granger’s declaration. We first wonder whether this is the position of the party – the PNCR – or it is the preserve of the Brigadier-Candidate?”
FITUG noted that it was only on May 1, that sugar workers attached to its major affiliate, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), marched with placards calling for non-privatization.
“This typifies the feelings of the industry’s workers. At least at this stage, FITUG and those workers realize that their toils and sweat kept the sugar industry alive enough to be the lynchpin of the national economy for decades. Sugar is the foreign exchange earner of consistent significance and the major contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”
FITUG noted that sugar workers also experienced the failure, near catastrophic, of the foreign Booker-Tate management team in the later years of its contract.
“This is evidence that the question of privatization of sugar must attract widespread stakeholders’ consideration and consultation at the appropriate time. Privatization must not be purely an election-mode issue or football. Sugar still employs thousands and has other thousands of dependents. One fifth of Guyana’s population is dependent daily on the sugar industry.”
The union body wondered whether Granger’s policy of privatization will take into account the socio-economic dislocation, the profit-oriented, private-sector employers would cause when those owners implement cost-cutting, widespread closure of cultivations and the redundancy of workers, among other measures.
“Had sugar been privatized during Hoyte’s period, the socio-economic dislocation of large numbers of wage earners would have been disastrous. So would be the consequences today.
“FITUG, therefore, vehemently abhors this policy of privatization, which includes GuyOil and the state media…”
FITUG urged that privatization, as an element of economic reform, demands deep thought, management guarantees, political will and national goodwill.
“FITUG suggests strongly that the PNC/R Candidate review his position with respect to sugar at this stage.”
Over recent years, government was forced to dole out millions of dollars to assist the beleaguered GuySuCo amidst a 36 per cent price cut by its major buyer in the European Union.
Despite millions more being invested, GuySuCo is now contending with its biggest challenge yet…poor workers’ attendance.
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