Dear Editor

GOVERNMENT is encouraged to fast forward plans and financial assistance payments to sugar workers immediately. This is not an issue to leave on the desk. Guyanese abroad with families in the sugar belt are encouraged to make contact with them to see what can be done to help them if necessary. And please understand that while you will give what you can afford, more than US$200 monthly would be really appreciated.

My sympathies go out to our sugar workers. This will probably mark the most difficult part of their lives, but all Guyanese encourage them to face this time of their trial boldly, and know that choosing suicide only makes it much worse for their families. Affected sugar workers are placed in a situation in which virtually everything that earns an income becomes an opportunity get money. Before they start looking for work, they should explore all available avenues of getting financial assistance, from family abroad or wherever.

Looking for a job will involve screening the classifieds every day for job opportunities and leaving home early every day for places where there is a possibility of getting either a regular job, or ‘job work’ if available. They should take a check of their skills set — things like carpentry, mechanic, masonry, welding and construction experience and cooking. They should also know when they are getting robbed by their potential employers, because these instances will arise very often. Their minds should be resolved to do anything that is not illegal to acquire money and could include even going into the interior, although I was made to understand that things are not so bright there right now. Bartica is the best place to enter the interior because although there are some fairly large mining companies in Georgetown, a few of them and other smaller mining enterprises in GT are scamps themselves, and will rob them blind in addition to exposing them to malaria and other diseases that arise as a result of unsanitary conditions in their camps.

It helps to keep yourself properly groomed, well shaved and your hair as low as you can allow, as in bald, to save on barbering costs. Employers capable of extending a hand by offering jobs to sugar workers without underpaying them too much should step up to the plate and give something back to Guyana by taking on a couple of sugar workers until they can establish themselves more firmly.

To our sugar workers we say: Chin Up, Cheer up, and Don’t Give Up! We are with you!
Help Us Build A Better Future For Guyana Today. Join Our Facebook Group Now And Suggest Ways To Help Our Sugar Workers. While we await the details of government’s financial assistance package to determine its effectiveness, we propose that in the interim our established companies come together to set up a single account under the supervision of an independent accounting firm to receive donations to distribute to affected workers. There can also be American, Canadian, and UK accounts, which can in turn funnel donations to the Guyana account. Advertisements should be placed in the local press to encourage affected sugar workers to register. Payments could be made twice per month: the 2nd and 17th. Additionally, major supermarkets and grocery stores could establish links with religious institutions within the affected areas to work out plans for providing hampers which should include sanitary items and foodstuff at least.

Regards
Craig Sylvester