Dear Editor,

I RESPOND to Dr David Hinds’ column “Tell Indian Guyanese the truth about Sugar and State Asset Recovery”, where he accuses Ms Rhyaan Shah and myself of “deception”. He says, “Yes, diversifying out of sugar would have a near-term impact on the mostly Indian Guyanese workforce. But to not point out that the present government has continued the subsidy of the industry even as it searched for ways to get out of the historic hole leads me to question the objective of the leaders.”

Dr Hinds obviously has more information that the rest of Guyana, especially the people of Wales and its environs. Wales has already been closed – but where is the “diversification” the government has promised to provide as alternative employment? I have appeared on TV programmes with Dr Hinds where I made the point that I have no problem with diversification – but before the estates are closed there must be options for the workers. And option is not an option unless it’s an exercisable option – and none of the suggested options rice, cash crops etc have been exercised.

And as I said on so many of those programmes, it is not only about Indians, since Wales has the largest percentage of African sugar workers and cane farmers. Farmers’ cane at Wales will be left standing because there is no feasible way to transport the cane to Uitvlugt. The proposed road that was supposed to be built remains a “proposal”.

As far back as 1999, I proposed that Guyana phase out of sugar and that the prime drained and irrigated land not be used for houselots, but diversified into the production of other crops. The land would be divided into 15-acre lots to be cultivated by workers producing crops for factories established by capital (foreign or domestic) that would supply foreign markets. At that time passion fruit pulp was one option mentioned. Right now the Chinese and Indian interests are scouring the globe for such land. Alternately, each estate can be capitalised and workers participate in ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) for new corporations that would engage in processing and marketing crops they have identified for world markets.

On SARA, my position as articulated on the programs where Mr Eric Philips appeared, was that all who stole state assets must be brought to justice. My concern, however, is as was that of the GHRA and TIGI, that in view of our own country’s history of authoritarian excesses, I am very leery of the powers being assigned to SARA’s head.

On SOCU’s recent action, as with the precipitate closure of Wales, I repeat my caution that the political directorate cannot continue to be so tone deaf as to the repercussions in the Indian community. And David, in addition to being the anniversary of New Jewel Movement seizing power in Grenada, March 13th is also the anniversary of the killings of 15 workers at Pln Rose Hall in 1913 when they protested the precipitate actions of management. It hastened the end of Indian Indentureship.

Regards
Ravi Dev