PRIME Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, on the occasion of 104th Death Anniversary of the Rose Hall Martyrs, told those gathered that the “sugar industry will not be closed” and called on the trade unions and everyone to work together to be part of the solution, not the problem.
“In the World today sugar estates are closing down very rapidly and we have to ensure that Guysuco does not come out of sugar, it must at least be able to manage a few factories and produce at least 150,000 tonnes that we could sell on the international market for the best price. We cannot give up the efforts to transform the sugar industry, to modernise the sugar industry and to deal with workers,” Nagamootoo told those gathered.
The Prime Minster said he hears and understands the cries of the workers and the unions for not wanting to close the industry down and assured them that won’t happen.
“We understand when workers and their unions put up the slogan that they do not want closure of sugar. Sugar will not be closed. I do not see that ever happening in my lifetime and I can tell you this that sugar is in my blood, it has perhaps been my single obsession since I entered politics… So today I would like to invite the trade union GAWU to be part of the solution not part of the problem, to join us to help how we can transform the sugar industry and make the life better for our sugar workers. I invite them to sit with me ,with Mr. Ramjattan ,with the Agriculture Minister around the table to work out solutions.”
He urged the union to not be afraid of joining the discussions and be part of the solution. “For me the role of the union is not to collect union dues and not to go against factory closures /estate closure because you think you will lose members. They are fearful any worker who goes into fishery or who goes into planting orchards, fresh fruits and participating in agro-processing in Guyana that they will no longer be member of the union, wherever these workers are they are entitled to be unionised and I do not see why this should become a problem in the way of the union joining us as we try to resolve the major problem in the sugar industry,” Nagamootoo stated.
Martyrs

Meanwhile, in reflecting on the struggles of the plantation workers, the Prime Minister stated that through the struggles of the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice, the foundation was laid for a better life for future generations and this should not be in vain. He noted that all resources that are available should be put to work for the betterment of the sugar workers and the nation. “While we cannot return to the past where there was so much misery, so much oppression, we learn about the long bitter history of sugar and yet we say sugar cannot die; too many workers depend on sugar for a living. But how do we ensure the living and livelihood be better than that of our fore parents? We have to use science and technology, we have to transform the work in the sugar industry that converted human beings into mules fetching canes on their heads, walking in the back dams barefooted and falling in punts and breaking their limbs and their bodies. We have to transform them to workers in a modern industry where even if you have fewer sugar factories, fewer estates, that you can make their work less burdensome, that you can convert that sugar industry that is a burden on this nation; it is bankrupted.”
Nagamootoo continued: “We could only do that in their memory if we all join in supporting the efforts to transform sugar and to make it into a viable industry and to use the resources of the estate to involve more workers in the productive process, to create wealth for our country so as we go down the future we hope, as we look before us we can see oil and gas resources coming to Guyana, we can always say that sugar workers have participated in the process of not only ensuring that sugar industries survive but it remains a basis for a green economy…”
Meanwhile, in delivering brief remarks, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Rmajattan stated that the heroic sacrifice made by the 15 workers on March 13, 1913, laid the foundation for the enjoyment of greater dignity by workers and this must never be forgotten.
“The martyrdom of March 13 epitomises the resistance of Indians on plantation, it was part of the chronicle of struggle for improved living and working conditions. A grateful nation never forgets those who give their lives in the field in the pursuit of dignity and freedom; a grateful nation honours its martyrs.”
March 13 each year has been designated as Rose Hall Martyrs Day; this declaration was made by President David Granger. The day is designated to honour the 15 sugar workers who lost their lives in the struggle for betterment. They were 14 male and a lone female Gobindei, the males were: Nibur, Badri, Hulas Bholay, Roopan, Durga, Gafur, Jugai, Juggo, Lalji, Motey Khan, Sadulla, Sarjoo and Sohan.
Also making remarks was Regional Chairman David Armogan, who reflected on the struggles of the martyrs and called on the government to ensure that despite poor performance in the sugar industry that the interest of the people of Rose Hall Estate would be paramount in whatever decision they choose to make.
“Today because of the poor performance of the sugar industry we have been hearing talks of closure and downsizing but these are things we read in the press. So far we have not heard anything definitive as to what is going to happen but the thousands of people who depend on Rose Hall for a living we pray that the people will be considered first in any decision regarding the sugar industry and Rose Hall in particular,” Armogan said.
Dr. Fred Sukhdeo, grandson of one of the Martyrs, Nibur Singh, who lived in the logies at Rose Hall Estate, gave a brief history of the events leading to the death of the martyrs and reflected on the living conditions that the indentured labourers were subjected to.