We will continue to champion the cause of the poor and downtrodden

Jul 10, 2011 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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The Alliance For Change is seriously concerned at the reactionary attitude and approach of the administration in outrightly banning the scrap metal industry. The AFC believes that such actions disregard the rights of legitimate business and workers’ interests.
It ought to be pointed out here that old metals can be classified as: ferrous, i.e. relating to or containing iron, and non-ferrous, which includes copper, aluminum etc. (the principal metals stolen from GT&T et al.) There already existed a ban on the non-ferrous metals which means that legitimate scrap metal dealers could not export such material.
The AFC understands that non-ferrous metals were smuggled out through the porous border areas with Venezuela and Brazil.
The Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association has informed the AFC that they are willing to work with the Guyana Police Force in arresting and prosecuting those who ply the illegal non-ferrous metal trade, as well as those who encourage and participate in the vandalism of public and private property. This association has no authority to do policing work but must, and is prepared to work in partnership with law enforcement agencies.
The AFC submits, however, that the present ill-equipped nature of the Police acts as a serious impediment to such prosecution.
The Association in April of this year had met with the Prime Minister on the resumption of the ban, indicating its willingness to work in partnership with the administration.
On this note, the AFC recalls that in 2010, local scrap metal dealers who are members of the Guyana Scrap Metal Dealers Association (GSMDA), asked the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to properly account for a sum in the region of US$1 million reportedly paid to it over a period of time to finance a monitoring unit to inspect scrap metal prior to export.
The then President of the Association Alfred Branche said “We were told of the need to set up the monitoring unit and were informed that exporters would have to finance that cost. It was agreed that exporters would pay US$125 per 20 ft container of scrap and US$150 per 40 ft container.”
The AFC is not unmindful of the concerns of such entities as GT&T, GWI, GuySuCo and others whose property have been pillaged and vandalized to feed an illegal metal trade, but similarly posits that they must also not be unmindful of the livelihoods that have been disrupted by the closure of the legitimate scrap metal trade.
The AFC understands that there are over 90 containers on the Georgetown wharves held up by the Government ban. Over the months, millions of dollars in demurrage fees have accrued and shippers have refused to handle the containers until the fees are paid.
The AFC submits that upon a proper examination checking for non-ferrous metals, they should be released forthwith.
The AFC believes that it is not too late for the ill-advised, misguided and reactionary approach of the Government to be reversed. The AFC stands in solidarity with all legitimate scrap metal dealers and workers, but strongly condemns those who indulge in illegal activities within the trade.
Abandonment of the working class ideology
The AFC is of the view that at the heart of this issue resides a worrisome development in Guyanese society. That is, a complete abandonment of the working class ideology by the ruling PPP administration.
This abandonment represents a total departure from the originally espoused egalitarian ideals of the PPP government. It really appears that the Marxian primers and books by Maurice Cornforth have been thrown out from Freedom House. This is a remarkable occurrence.
Over the recent weeks and months, the AFC has been documenting numerous case studies and more importantly providing the requisite representation.
Most recently, we pointed out the example of the underdevelopment and infrastructural neglect in Yarrowkabra. We made the point that while Pradoville 2, even before its occupancy, is already serviced with all infrastructural amenities, the poor and the powerless in Yarrowkabra, as well as in so many depressed communities, are in the darkness of poverty and neglect.
Before that we stood on the picket line in solidarity with the working class residents of no. 30 village, West Coast Berbice who, in this day and age, are denied electricity.
Before that we stood firmly with the cattle farmers of the West Coast Demerara whose forage plot was arbitrarily confiscated even though they were a legitimate cooperative society who paid all their rates and taxes.
Before that we also stood on the picket line with the dust affected residents of Cane Grove whose lives were made intolerable by a wealthy rice farmer who for years disregarded the plight of the poor.
We also stood on the picket line with the Linden Nurses and other medical support staff whose terms and conditions of work are clearly oppressive.
An AFC administration would be fully committed to the concern, plight and grievance of the poor. This is so, because our untiring community work throughout the length and breadth of this country has empowered us with a knowledge and empathy that can only be had by such gruelling work.
In the meantime, we will continue to champion the cause of the poor and downtrodden as we recognize that it is they who constitute the life blood of a society.

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