-Sugar Workers at Rose Hall Estate agree with Head of State
The consensus by President Bharrat Jagdeo, as revealed during the recent Cabinet Outreach in Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), is “Workers have a role to play in reviving the sugar industry.”

Mr. Pawan Kumar

Guyana’s Head-of-State has explained that workers have to recognize their role and alluded to the present advancements that are being made in the industry, primarily the $40B investment in the Skeldon Sugar Factory.

“We might have a couple of bad years, but we are securing this industry for the future,” he posited.

In invited comments from sugar workers at the Rose Hall Estate in the same region, the general concurrence was that cooperation was

Mr. Anoop Sookram

quintessential to tackling situations in the sugar industry.
Mr. Pawan Kumar Lall, a 47-year-old Field Foreman said, “The workers here understand the situation in the industry and people are pulling together. They are cooperating to push production.”

He added that Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is receiving value for money in that the work being done is “Up-to-date.”

Ms. Parbattie Shrichand

“The workers are giving a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay,” he said.

The Field Foreman also acknowledged that there are challenges that continue to face the industry, but maintained that cooperation among stakeholders is the key to addressing the same.

Another worker, a planter, 35-year-old Mr. Anoop Sookram, said, “Workers and Management need to negotiate regularly to get a better industry.

Ms. Parbattie Shrichand, a 58-year-old weeder, agreed and said, “We are working harder to push this.”

Sookram and Shrichand have worked with the industry for 11 and 18 years, respectively.

Mr. Sanpaul Seelall

Fifty-three-year-old Mr. Sanpaul Seelall, an irrigation operator said, “We are in a good position now. The Sugar industry needs people and we are trying because we want success.”

Seelall, who has been working with the industry for 34 years, cited proof of this commitment by pointing out the total of 12 days’ pay he received as his weekly incentive for his productivity.

A planter in the fields, 47-year-old Mr. Raywan Chonoolall, echoed this statement and pointed out that the incentives are also motivating the workers.

“This is our livelihood. We depend on this so we have to work hard for it and the additional things we get make it better,” he said.

Mr. Raywan Chonoolall

Chonoolall said his years of service to the industry total 25 years.

According to the acting Crop Production Manager, Mr. Bishan Dh
anpat, there are different categories of incentives that can be offered to deserving workers.

“They get what is fair for a fair day’s work,” he said.
Dhanpat agreed that motivating the workers with incentives was the way to go, considering the fact that they are vital to the industry.

Mr. Bishan Dhanpat

“We are manually-inclined, so we are dependent on these workers…All in all, the workers are performing day-to-day and their output, as well as their standards, is increasing greatly,” he opined.
Dhanpat explained that the workers are more alert and vigilant of what is taking place in the industry and so are inclined to work harder to advance the source of their livelihoods.

He agreed with the Head-of-State’s statement that workers have a role to play in reviving the sugar industry and added that

efforts are being made in that direction, through enhanced cooperation among stakeholders.