-in observance of their 62nd death anniversary
In recognition of the life and sacrifice of the five sugar workers who died on June 16, 1948, during their fight for better wages and working conditions in Guyana, Enmore Martyrs Day was commemorated yesterday.
The annual activity was attended by Government officials and representatives of  several trade unions, religious orgnaisations and the general public.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, addressing the gathering, said that Enmore Martyrs Day is significant in the history of Guyana, not only for sugar workers, but for all Guyanese.

While congratulating the Shiv Mandir for continuing its observance of the event, he noted that Guyanese need to be inspired by the dedication and commitment of the five sugar workers who were slain and the others who fought and struggled for democracy during that period.
“Their struggle is also important because they fought and committed themselves in the struggle for improving Guyana. They were courageous and united in the struggle for the building of a better Guyana that we all wanted,” he said.
Mr. Hinds also urged persons to at all times be persuasive and to develop the courage, faith and commitment to deal with events which emerge from day to day.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, emphasizing the need for workers to collaborate and work together, said that the incident at Enmore was not the first time during colonial rule that sugar workers were killed.
“We saw that happening in 1872, 1896, 1913 and 1939, and sugar workers had, throughout the struggle for a better society, felt the brunt of the pressure; but the Enmore Martyrs were very special since they demonstrated and led us to a point in Guyana’s development in the struggle to obtain freedom.”
He said that the Enmore Martyrs created a new political culture, level of awareness and consciousness which led to eventual democracy.
He noted that although Guyana developed a democratic system under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, Guyanese still have to continue the struggle until the dream of the Enmore Martyrs is fully realized.
“In 1948, there was fighting and struggling for better working conditions on sugar estates; and today there is still a struggle for a united, free, and prosperous Guyana.”
He said that workers today want to bring about changes in their environment, but they must first work to create a unified society.
Speaking on the issue of the sugar industry, Minister Persaud said that this belongs to all of Guyana, and that together “we can work to preserve the industry so that it can survive the difficulty that it is currently experiencing.”

The Agriculture Minister said that the struggle at present is of a different nature , with a price cut which will see the industry losing $10B this year.
He said that society has a part to play to ensure that the sugar industry can survive the difficulties and that workers, in general, be inspired by the courage of the Enmore Martyrs.
Government has committed to the survival of the sugar which is evident with the construction of the US$185M flagship state-of-the-art Skeldon sugar factory commissioned on August 22 last.
Minister Persaud said that the administration will continue to invest in the industry, and this year will see US$5.4M being invested into the sugar industry. He also observed that the soon-to-be completed Enmore Packaging Plant will see value-added products on the market by September.
“The investment that we have made will certainly make the Enmore Martyrs happy, since we have and will continue to work assiduously to improve the living conditions of our people.”
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Donald Ramotar, while addressing the gathering, said that Enmore helped to accelerate the formation of the PPP/C party.
He noted that the Martyrs not only fought for better wages and conditions, but also gave their lives for the country.
Recalling the 1948 strike, Ramotar said that Enmore was a juncture of many struggles which saw the workers fighting to defend their working conditions and industrial democracy.
“In the colonial world, it was a fight for independence in Asia, Africa and Latin America; and the struggle at Enmore was a demonstration that Guyana was at the start of the national liberation movement,” he said.
On June 16, 1948, during a fight for ‘better wages and improved living conditions’, sugar workers gathered outside the factory at Enmore for a protest and picketing exercise.
Of the nineteen workers who formed the strike party, five were killed when police opened fire on them. Those who perished were Lallabagee Kissoon, Pooran, Rambarran, Dookhie and Harry.
In observance of their life and death, and to honour their fight and struggle for democracy, a monument was erected at Enmore and every year homage is paid to the martyrs.