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Sugar workers picket Ministry of the Presidency, Parliament
Workers from the Wales and Enmore/La Bonne Intention Estates, along with
Protestors outside of the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday morning.
officials of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), staged picketing exercises outside of the Ministry of the Presidency and outside of the Parliament buildings yesterday.
Taking part in the protests also, were children. Many were seen holding placards and chanting alongside their parents.
This created quite a scene as passers-by stopped to catch a glimpse.
The Wales workers – cane cutters and cane transport employees – are calling on the Government to have the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) discharge its legal obligation by providing them with their severance payments.
According to the GAWU, the workers’ jobs at Wales, West Bank of Demerara, have become redundant following the “cessation” of cane growing and sugar processing at the end of 2016.
GAWU reiterated that the Corporation’s “forceful demand” for the workers to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away from Wales, is not in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA).
“That Act at Section 21(4)(b) advises that an employer is required to provide workers with their severance payments if the employer is unable to provide a similar job ”at the same place of employment or within a 10-milke radius therefrom under no less favourable conditions than those such employee enjoyed immediately prior to the termination”. GAWU Stated.
The Union further stated that given GuySuCo’s “admission” that the workers’ jobs are redundant and Uitvlugt is beyond the lawful radius, then it follows that the workers severance pay demand is in order.
Some of the children that were part of the protests yesterday.
”On the other hand, the Enmore/LBI workers are concerned very much about their and their family’s future in view of a proposal, possibly a decision, to close their Estate and another at year-end.
The workers and the Union are staunchly opposed to the closure and sell-out of sugar estates and are committed to resist decisions in this direction.
Such a move, we contend, will engender harsh and grave repercussions for the thousands of Guyanese and the scores of communities connected to the sugar estates in question. Moreover, the contemplation of enlarging the already sizeable unemployed pool in our country defies logic especially at this time when it is agreed that our economic fortunes are on the decline,” the Union stated.
GAWU reiterated that there is no comprehensive plan, at this time, to address the fallout from sugar estates closure and divestment.
“The intentions by GuySuCo to become involved, once again, in non-sugar ventures, if Wales is used as a barometer, give us very little comfort as there is no sign, as far as we are aware, of implementation of the touted endeavours.
“Non-sugar ventures, is a non-starter, given GuySuCo’s past experiences and clearly very little thought going into this idea. To condemn thousands of our compatriots in ‘ventures’ in circumstances where there are so many unanswered questions is not only callous, but immoral as well.”
The Union said that it firmly believes that the sugar industry has all the possibilities to be placed on a viable and sustainable path.
GAWU, has already shared with the Government of Guyana and the public its proposals.
“It seems that our proposals were not considered, possibly not even read, by the powers-that-be who remain headstrong on a decision that will harm Guyana and Guyanese for generations to come. At this time, we urge, as we have done before, that we secure our sugar industry for ourselves and our posterity,” GAWU said.
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