What happen to us the Wales Estate laid off workers

Nov 17, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, -Who is looking out for the Wales Estate laid off Sugar workers and their families that applied, for some of the Wales Estate land to do farming?

Editor, can you publish this workers letter in your widely circulated news media. We the Wales Estate Laid off sugar workers are very happy for all the other farmers and village that are getting land, loan, training, etc…. According to Gy-Times news November 16th, 2025, “a news release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Mustapha highlighted the significant progress already underway in pasture development, explaining that 60 five-acre plots (300 acres) have been developed for small ruminant farmers across the region”, referring to Region# 5 & Region #6.   What happen to us, the Wales Estate laid off Sugar workers from Region # 3, that want and applied for land to do agriculture, chicken and animal rearing?

Editor, this letter is an open letter to President Ali, Guyana government Ministers and all MPs that since Wales Sugar Estate closed down in 2016, no representative (s) from the Ministry of labour, Ministry of Agriculture and the two sugar workers Union, (GAWU and NAACIE) came to meet, listen and make representation for us, the laid off Wales Sugar Estate Workers to get skills retraining, land for farming, chicken and animal rearing, Agri-Loan, House lots, etc…. Since 2023, over three hundred and fifty (350) laid off Wales Estate Sugar workers have signed petition and submitted it to the OP, Government and GAWU union leadership.

President Ali, It is reported that the Gas to Shore project and Gas Generation Plant will only use one hundred acres of the land for the project situated approximately 3.5 to 4 Kilometer, South of Wales Village, at the Marias Lodge area, on the West Bank of the Demerara River.  The Ministry of Housing proposed new housing scheme may use approximately 1,500 acres of the land and just before the 2025 National & Regional election, it is reported that Minister Zulfikar told some Vreezeland-Free & Easy residents(squatters) that he will give them 200 acres of the sugar cane land for pasture.

President Ali, so there are still thousands of acres of these sugar cane land available that can be given in plots of 10 to 15 acres each, to the interested Wales Estate laid off Sugar Workers that want to do agriculture, chicken and animal rearing, etc…. President Ali, you and the PPP-CC \ Exec should know that most of the Wales Estate Sugar Workers and their families are from Canal # 2 Polder, Toevulgt-Patentia District, Vreezeland-Free & Easy Village and are supporters and some are members of the ruling PPP.  They were also members of the GAWU and NAACIE, paying pay roll deduction Union dues and membership fee. But for some strange reason or reasons the Ministry of labour, Ministry of Agriculture and sugar workers union forget us, the laid off Wales estate sugar workers.

President Ail some of the workers have follow your suggestion and organise and elect a Sugar Workers land use Committee, headed by Mr. Kris Budhoo, Mr. Etwaroo, Mr. Twaheer, Mr. Hercules, Ms. Judy Singh, Mr. Mohammed, Mr. Balkarran, S. Gaindalall and others. This Workers Committee collected over three hundred fifty (350) laid off sugar workers name and signatures appealing for land to do farming, chicken and animal rearing, etc…. Since 2023, this Workers Committee have submitted copy of the signed workers petition to the OP, OPM, VP, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Agriculture, GAWU, NAACIE and another Ministry. But to date we have not get no acknowledgement, call and or meeting to help us secure our land for farming.  Do not destroy these cane field developed land drainage and irrigation infrastructure for housing.

President Ali, it is reported that the Wales Sugar Estate have over nine thousand (9,000) acres of abandon sugar cane land. With the most advance, laid out drainage and irrigation infrastructure within this Wales Sugar Estate sugar cane land, in Guyana and probably the Caribbean, best suitable for agriculture.
You know, it  will be more prudent to leave these land for agriculture and develop new land inland away, from the Atlantic Ocean for housing. It was reported that since in 1970s, the UN agency for the Environment have been advising the Guyana Government to move the population inland, away from the Atlantic Ocean, because of Global warming and rising sea water level and now with increasing rain fall.

President Ali, as a former Minister for Housing and Water Ministry, you and the Ministry of Housing should know of the huge cost to fill up the canals, drains and level up a sugar cane field to create house lots.  So just compare the cost to make one house lot in a sugar can field and the cost to make one house lot further in land on new land, which most likely will be on higher ground. And also, the cane field will aid the rapid development and increase in agriculture (other crops) production and animal rearing on these sugar cane land.

Thank you,
Yours Respectfully,
For the Wales Sugar Estate laid Off Sugar Workers.

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• Caribbean, Estate Sugar workers, GAWU and NAACIE, Minister Zulfikar, President Ali

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