THE BRUTAL killing of five sugar workers – now known as the Enmore Martyrs – on June 16, 1948, served as a catalyst for change and is today a genuine reminder to sugar workers and the working class to always be on their guard and demand what is rightfully theirs.This was the contention of President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) who congregated with fellow members and supporters of the PPP at Robert’s Square, Enmore, on Wednesday to observe and reflect on the death of the five heroes.

The five heroes were Rambarran, Lall called Pooran, Lallabagie Kissoon, Surujballi called Dookie and Harry, all of whom lost their lives while on strike at Plantation Enmore, East Coast of Demerara (ECD). In mid-1970 Enmore Martyr’s Day was made a national event.

“It is a significant event,” Chand said, adding that it was one of a series of killings of sugar workers during colonization. He explained that from 1872 to 1948, 54 sugar workers in Guyana were killed in similar fashion to that of the Enmore Martyrs.

They were killed because they were defending their rights and that of their fellow workers. This event is significant also because it turned out to be the last killing of sugar workers and many said that it marked the entry of Dr. Cheddie Jagan into the political life of Guyana,” GAWU’s President said.

He went on to explain that Dr. Jagan, who was a former President, was able to speak out against many of the injustices that sugar workers faced, and that ended up having checks and balances on the excesses of the sugar planters.

“The killings served as a catalyst for change and a genuine reminder for sugar workers and the working class to be on their guard and demand which is rightfully theirs,” Chand said.

The PPP event was well attended by supporters in Enmore – one of the party’s strongholds. The ceremony was an open-air one which was punctuated with cultural items. Speaking at the event were General Secretary of the party Clement Rohee, executive Gail Texeira; Former President Donald Ramotar and former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

The event preceded a wreath laying ceremony on Wednesday morning at the La Repentir cemetery at the graves of the five fallen heroes.
Meanwhile, the PPP in a statement on Wednesday sough to salute the martyrs, stating that their memory should serve as a reminder for all to recommit to fighting for the rights of sugar workers.

“The five slain sugar workers, now referred to as the Enmore Martyrs stand as a living monument to the struggles and sacrifices waged by sugar workers for a living wage and better conditions of work” the PPPS said in a statement.

The party said regrettably, sugar workers today face an uncertain future with the closure of the Wales Estate and the impending closure of the LBI estate. In addition, workers are denied production incentive bonuses, and collective bargaining agreements with their union GAWU have now been honoured in the breach.

As such, the party took the opportunity to renew its commitment to defend the rights of all sugar workers especially at this time when the industry is experiencing a period of “unprecedented crisis”.

The PPP called on all workers to unite and close ranks against this “onslaught” in honour of the heroic struggles waged by the Enmore Martyrs who paid the ultimate price of sacrificing their lives in defence of their rights.

Further, the party called on the government to instruct the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) to respect the collective labour agreement it has with unions operating in the sugar industry. According to the party, the disrespect and callous attitude displayed by GUYSUCO is a clear violation of industrial relations enshrined in the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“The PPP takes this opportunity of Enmore Martyrs Day to serve notice on the APNU-AFC administration that it will not sit idly by and allow the rights of workers to be ignored and violated” the statement added.

The government will today hold the official Enmore Martyrs commemoration event at the Enmore Martyrs Monument from 17:00 h. A wreath laying ceremony will be held first at Le Repentir in the morning.