Why the silence on Sugar Estates non-reopening

Mar 14, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,
Reference is made to news on closure of Enmore Packaging Plant (Mar 7) and GAWU response (KN March 12). GAWU is standing up for workers’ rights unlike some activists as it demands answers on terms and conditions of lease arrangements.
I distinctly recall ‘Indian rights activists’ lambasting the coalition government over the closure of four sugar estates that resulted in some 7,500 workers being sent home. The closure also impacted thousands of other jobs tied to the functioning of the estates in those communities. Small businesses were also forced to close as residents lacked spending power to support shopkeepers. Over 40,000 families or some 160,000 mouths or 20% of the population were impacted. Indian rights activists justifiably condemned the coalition for closing the estates without providing alternate source of income for affected workers. I too assailed the coalition for its action that came across as heartless. I voted for the coalition and never thought they would discriminate against people and put them out of work.
During the election campaign and as written in the manifesto, the PPP committed to re-opening the four estates and re-hiring the 7,500 terminated workers plus thousands more. Some eighteen months into government, the PPP has not re-opened any of the four estates. The Vice President said Wales will become an industrial complex; so far no one is hired there. The government hired 450 workers in 2020 at three estates and terminated 200 by the end of 2021. Letters were sent out to the remaining 250 that they would be re-assigned to the three functioning estates. Clearly, the three estates will not be reopened and over 7,000 workers, almost all supporters of PPP, will remain without jobs. The government also announced a plan to restructure Uitvlugt into ethanol and corn production; this will result in thousands more losing their jobs. The Enmore Sugar Packaging Plant has been closed with the staff losing their income. Land at Enmore has been given away to friends of politicians.
Almost the entire sugar industry fraternity voted PPP. Why aren’t the sugar workers protesting the non re-opening of the four estates? Their party, not the coalition, is refusing to reopen them. Is the PPP saying the coalition was right to shut down the four estates? The government says Wales will become an industrial complex. When? How should the 2,000 workers of Wales and their families survive?
Why aren’t the Indian rights activists speaking out now against the government that is supposed to represent the rights of sugar workers? They were vociferous in their voice in 2017 but lost their tongue now. Some persons claimed they advanced plans to save the four sugar estates in 2017 but the coalition didn’t listen. Why aren’t they pressuring the PPP administration to consider their plan to rescue sugar? The duo suggested and advocated that the land of the four estates be allocated to the workers. The land is being doled out to government friends. Some are criticising the government on its policy, why aren’t they championing their proposal for government to lease the land to sugar workers for cane production or some other crops?
Yours truly,
Samuel Gittens

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