The Guyana Peace Council salutes the memory of the Enmore Martyrs

Jun 17, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Peace Council (GPC) salutes the memory of the five sugar workers – Rambarran, Pooran, Lallabagee, Surajballi and Harry – who were shot to death by colonial police on June 16, 1948.
The five men were protesting the imposition of the cut and load system, which they thought to be unfair since it, resulted in additional work without additional compensation.
The strike action was supported by their Union, the Guyana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) and the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), which was founded by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, his wife Janet, Ashton Chase and HJM Hubbard in 1946. At the graveside of the fallen workers, Dr. Jagan made a silent pledge to dedicate his entire life to the cause of the working people.
One consequence of the killing of the five sugar workers was that it provided the catalyst for the formation of the People’s Progressive Party on January 1, 1950. The martyrdom of the slain sugar workers was recognised at a Conference of regional affiliates of the World Peace Council in June 1976 at a meeting in Bogota, Colombia.
The Guyana Peace Council commends the Guyana Government for its decision to reopen the sugar estates, which were closed under the previous APNU+AFC administration. It is now 73 years since the deaths of the five heroic workers but their legacy of sacrifice and struggle for a better and more dignified life continues to live on.
Yours truly,
Clement Rohee

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