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Promises have gone through the window

Jul 09, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is with great concerns that I am penning this letter to your column in respect to the above and the recent development taking place within this country especially in the sugar industry.  This Industry is said to be the backbone of PPP\C because of the support they claim to be getting during national elections especially here in Berbice.
Over the years we heard of the fight for the rights of sugar workers by the PPP\C so that workers will not be trampled upon by any especially by the Government of the Day.  Before 1992 workers’ rights were represented by GAWU towards the government of the day.  We saw and heard workers strike and get what they want.  We heard then that in no way government must be in bed with the union that represent the workers’ rights because it will be of no benefit to the workers, that in this way the rights of workers will be trampled upon and that is why GAWU is fighting for the working class in the Industry and that is why the PPP is a party fighting for the working class in Guyana.  But all things were said before 1992.
I can recall during the years 1990-1992 on May 1, which is Labour Day, in Guyana, five young men (I was one) would lead the march from Bath Settlement Old Well Square to Dhanar Old Road Square, Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice.  There thousands of sugar workers would gather in public, showing their fight for the rights of workers.
Many delivered speeches and the programme was normally chaired by the vibrant Navin Chandarpal.  The workers will be listening carefully to the leaders of the PPP especially the great Dr. Jagan, who continued to assure workers that their rights will never be trampled upon as long as the PPP gets into power and that workers will stand more to benefit from the industry in the years to come.
Those sentiments were echoed by Moses Nagamootoo.
Later in 1992 (October 5) the PPP\C was given the mantle of creating a better Guyana;  they were given power to give the sugar workers a better life so that workers will no more be trampled upon.
Lo and behold all that was said and promised to the sugar workers before 1992 are now on the back burner of the PPP\C agenda.
After the 1992 elections, rallies that were held in West Berbice on Labour Day were stopped.  Workers were abandoned and had no way of reaching and listening anymore to their leaders both PPP and GAWU face to face.
The API was taken away and other benefits were trampled upon.  The rights of the workers were no more as GAWU continued to have the relationship with the PPP and started to sleep in the same bed with PPP\C government.
All that the great leader Dr. Jagan fought for and said to the workers are gone in vain.
We saw the president of GAWU becoming an executive member of PPP\C and a Member of Parliament for the said party.  We saw many regional GAWU representatives being chosen because of their political affiliations to the ruling PPP\C.  We saw less or no representation now from GAWU, as workers rights are being trampled upon every single day by Guysuco and nothing is being done.
Abel Seetaram

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