Sugar protestors greet Highbury’s Arrival Day celebrations

May 06, 2017 News

While many gathered for the historic celebration of 179th Anniversary of Indian Arrival at Plantation Highbury on Friday, PPP/C supporters, sugar workers and representatives of the sugar industry held a picketing

Protestors outside the Plantation Highbury, East Berbice celebrations yesterday.

exercise calling on the government to rethink their decisions on the closure of several major sugar estates.
This action follows a series of protests over the last few weeks by sugar workers across the country after an announcement was made by President David Granger who advised that Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt Estates will remain open. This was seen as an indication that the other estates will be closed.
Noting the Head of State’s presence at the activity, the protesters lined the roadway shouting ‘Sugar must be saved’.
According to Zamal Hussain, Regional Party Supervisor, Guyana’s economy will take a further plunge if closure plans are executed.
”What will happen to our economy? Business is already slow and it seems like the government wants the economy to crash. This area will become a ghost town if they close those estates.”
Hussain stressed that Guyana depends heavily on the sugar industry and the drastic move will leave many struggling Guyanese without work, leading to a life of crime.
”What will happen when these people are laid off? Who will pay their bills and look after their responsibilities? People depend on the money generated by sugar in Guyana so how can you take bread out of an innocent person’s mouth? Is this the good life we voted for? This is not the change we were promised.”
Hussain said, “These are questions we need answers for and they are not telling us anything. That’s why we are out there to let our voices be heard.”
Hussain noted that Government plans to diversify the failing sugar industry but no plans have been made about the placement of the workers.
”They only saying that it gonna close but they not saying what’s gonna happen to the workers. We are waiting for the President to make an announcement to say what’s gonna happen to them. I only hope it will not be another Wales fiasco where over 1700 workers lost their jobs.”
Meanwhile, at the next Sitting of the National Assembly, Government and the opposition are expected to debate Government’s White Paper on the future of the failing industry.

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