By Lisa Hamilton

– call for reopening of estates

RETRENCHED sugar workers are calling on the government to re-open the sugar estates on the basis of no job opportunities, worsening societal conditions and the daily shrinkage of severances as they struggle to support their families. They are also clamouring for direct visits by ministers of government and urged that they use language that they will understand.

A group of 13 addressed the media at a press conference held at the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday, 14 February, to tell of some of the challenges they were facing. One main concern came from older workers who said that businesses continue to refuse them employment due to their ages and those among them who possess secondary and technical education have also found the process difficult.
In addition, due to low financial streams, the workers say their families are being torn apart as wives leave their husbands, while some individuals are considering arranged marriages for their daughters. One ex-employee of Rose Hall estate, Glen McCloud, said that workers who received only half of their severance payments cannot utilise the amount to support their families but for a few months. “Our little monies we have are reducing steadily and surely and [sic] our severance pay cannot last very long. We want to work, to produce and to earn,” he said.

“We are calling on them strongly, so that they can re-think their decision and open back the factory so that people can start getting work,” another added.
When questioned whether ex-workers were exposed to the ‘Business, Financial and Investment Forums’ hosted by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo), Corleen Lewis, former employee of Skeldon estate, said: “Two weeks back they came at Skeldon Community Centre and indeed they engaged us concerning ideas about how we should use our severance…but, what I’m saying is, even if we invest the money, it wouldn’t last long…who will buy from who? Because business is low, everybody is crying out right now at Skeldon.”

When asked whether the job fair held at Patentia on January 31, 2018, when over 500 sugar workers were hired was capitalised upon, some of the ex-workers said they had been unaware of the event, while others said they did not possess the necessary qualifications for the jobs. “They went ‘round the other day by we side in Wales…when I been to the job you have to have over two subjects, three subjects to get a job and majority of we don’t have no subjects,” said Mark Solomon.
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The workers are calling on ministers of government to take a closer look at the situation by personally visiting affected communities and by utilising common language during interactions. An additional issue was raised with regard to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Old Age Pension, which some of the representatives said they would not receive because they did not meet the required minimum of 750 contributions.

“It’s very heart-rending to know that you work all these years and you have just about 60 more contributions to make your NIS to get your pension but you’re being denied that,” one of the men said. “Right now I go the whole of town to look for job, when I go and tell them me age they said ‘no’, they don’t want me, I too old, so I can’t get to pay me contribution,” another said.
A few Non-Governmental Organisations are making arrangements to help the workers, the media were told, but the representatives recommend school feedings and the handing over of farming lands promised as present efforts are not enough.

President of GAWU, Komal Chand, said that it is good the ex-workers were allowed to speak out and the union is currently advising and encouraging the workers not to act negatively on feelings of depression, but rather to “stand up and face the challenges”.
Chand said the union believes that there is a chance the estates will operate once again. “I heard from Mr. Minister Harmon…that they have 70 persons who have expressed interest and that is a testimony to the fact that these estates are profitable,” he said.
Chand said that GAWU is not “unconcerned” about the situation and is not only looking for more ways to defend its workers, but also to sustain them beyond the capabilities of the union.

When asked about the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund, he said that GuySuCo owes a lot of money to the fund, which caters for loans, but only to active sugar workers as workers would be expected to repay a weekly amount. On the topic of the NIS, Chand said the union would be encouraging retrenched workers to make voluntary contributions before the usual one-year grace period passes: “We are encouraging them to do that and in our next union paper, we’re going to inform them about this.” Finally, Chand said that the case of the Wales sugar workers is yet to be heard, while the case to revoke the closure of the sugar estates is set to be considered by the union’s Executive Committee on whether it will be taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).