Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Ramjattan should be the last to talk about sugar

Nov 05, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) is dismayed by the comments from AFC Member of Parliament (MP) Khemraj Ramjattan in the November 04, 2024, Stabroek News regarding the sugar industry. According to the news article, Mr Ramjattan swiped at the GAWU for our advocacy on behalf of sugar workers and their families. It is disappointing that an individual who clothed himself as a ‘national leader’ is advancing sentiments against the well-being and welfare of ordinary Guyanese.

The Opposition MP charges that the Union’s stance in respect of workers will change arising from the evolution of the industry’s labour force. We find such assertions laughable and are no doubt an attempt to mislead and deceive deliberately. The GAWU has long expressed positive support for the industry’s mechanisation efforts, noting their complementary effects and impact on productivity. Mr Ramjattan may recall when he held the ‘powerful’ post as Vice President in the Coalition Government, the GAWU advancing similar positions. We have not digressed from that position, and therefore, we fail to see the connection he is futilely attempting to make.

The former Public Security Minister held that working in the sugar industry was akin to being impoverished. This is irresponsible, reckless, and demeaning to the hard-working sugar workers and their families. In our view, it speaks to the contempt and derision held by Mr Ramjattan towards the Guyanese in the sugar belt. Of course, we believe the Opposition MP should be the last to talk about impoverishment in the sugar belt.

While he seeks to pontificate, we, like many Guyanese, have not forgotten what he and his cohorts, when in Government, did to the sugar workers and the industry. The sending home of some 7,000 Guyanese men and women without even an ounce of remorse. Does he recall telling GAWU and now President Dr Irfaan Ali that if we want a socio-economic study of the impact of the closure, we should do it ourselves?

We did take him up and, with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), got that study done. Sadly, that study confirmed what we told Mr Ramjattan and his colleagues. He and his then government-cut the workers loose without a lifeline. He and his colleagues then denied them their severance pay consistent with the law. He and his colleagues simply turned their backs and sat back in their ivory towers while poverty, suffering, and indignation crept into the lives of tens of thousands of Guyanese. Does he remember too rubbing salt in the wound when sugar workers had their wages frozen during the entire tenure of the APNU+AFC Government?

So, it is simply appalling that Mr Ramjattan now contends that it is economically irresponsible to support the sugar industry. By his utterances, it appears he contends that it was responsible for pauperising tens of thousands as he did during the reign of the Coalition Government. For us, it speaks to the nature and approach of the individuals who comprised the now-divorced Coalition. It is an enigma to us that people can still listen, much less have any modicum of respect for persons of such ilk.

The GAWU, like thousands of sugar workers, recognises and appreciates Dr Irfaan Ali’s government support of the sugar industry. Finally, the stranglehold has been released, and though we have disagreements in certain respects, we are confident that the industry can overcome its difficulties and continue to make meaningful contributions to our people and country’s well-being.

Yours faithfully,

Seepaul Narine

President

GAWU

(Ramjattan should be the last to talk about sugar)

Similar Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Glenn Lall Show | September. 30th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Uncertainty clouds Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach position as Barbados showdown approaches

Uncertainty clouds Golden Jaguars’ Head Coach position as...

Nov 05, 2024

  By Rawle Toney Kaieteur  Sports- With less than two weeks before the Golden Jaguars meet Barbados in back-to-back encounters that could shape their Gold Cup destiny, the Guyana Football...
Read More
Greaves makes history with magnificent 151* to lead Hurricanes to seven-wicket win over Red Force

Greaves makes history with magnificent 151* to...

Nov 05, 2024

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson awarded nation’s highest honour

Dominica’s Olympic champion Thea LaFond-Gadson...

Nov 05, 2024

Julien Alfred named finalist for World Track Athlete of the Year among elite group of Olympic champions

Julien Alfred named finalist for World Track...

Nov 05, 2024

Junior Sinclair replaces Kevin Sinclair in the CG United Super 50 Cup 2024

Junior Sinclair replaces Kevin Sinclair in the CG...

Nov 05, 2024

Hamilton Green KO Football Championship starts Friday

Hamilton Green KO Football Championship starts...

Nov 05, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]