THE recent exchange between former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) serves as a stark reminder of the devastating legacy left by the APNU+AFC coalition, and the remarkable transformation underway under President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s leadership.

While Nagamootoo tries to change history with selective views, and convenient omissions, the current administration’s overall effort to revitalise the sugar industry shows what real commitment and vision can accomplish.

Nagamootoo’s recent comments on social media reveal a clear hypocrisy. This is a man who, along with his coalition colleagues, promised in 2015 that “there was no question of government scaling down or abandoning the industry”, only to oversee the steady decline of four major sugar estates.

The closure of Wales, Rose Hall, Skeldon, and Enmore Estates from 2015 to 2020 left over 7,000 direct employees without jobs, and impacted around 40,000 others indirectly.

These numbers were not just figures on a government report; they represented families torn apart, communities devastated, and generations of skill thrown away.

The coalition’s failure to conduct proper socio-economic impact studies before these closures showed their lack of concern for the human cost of their politically motivated choices.

GAWU’s strong response to Nagamootoo’s narrative is both valid and necessary. The Union points out that the former Prime Minister conveniently overlooks the thousands of temporary workers who received no compensation, and were left to struggle on their own.

The coalition government’s failure to plan for redundancy payments, later acknowledged by then-Finance Minister Winston Jordan, revealed their callous attitude towards legal obligations and basic decency. Workers had to take legal action to get their rightful pay; a shameful episode that no amount of spin can erase.

In sharp contrast, President Ali’s administration has shown a strong commitment to not just restoring but transforming Guyana’s sugar industry.

Since taking office in 2020, the PPP/C government has invested significantly in the industry.

This is more than just financial backing; it represents a clear vision for change. The government has successfully re-employed over 4,500 people, and reopened the Rose Hall Estate in September 2023, with plans to gradually reopen other estates.

Most importantly, President Ali’s vision goes beyond traditional sugar production; it also includes worker empowerment and ownership.

His ground-breaking idea to give sugar workers part-ownership roles in the industry marks a significant change that views workers not just as employees, but as key players in their industry’s future.

This innovative plan would let workers form groups and become part-owners of mechanised operations, promising to improve conditions while boosting productivity and worker income.

The modernisation efforts under Ali’s leadership are impressive as well. Almost 40 per cent of sugar estates have been mechanised, with plans to convert an additional 3,000 hectares soon.

The government is also focused on infrastructure, with over 17 kilometers of all-weather roads planned across the industry. These investments reflect a complete approach to revitalising the industry that tackles both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

The difference between the two administrations is striking. While the APNU+AFC coalition saw only burdens and opted for retreat, the PPP/C government sees opportunities and seeks progress.

The current administration recognises that a thriving sugar industry needs not just financial support, but real partnerships with workers and their communities.

GAWU’s final advice to Nagamootoo that he should start any future writings on sugar with “once upon a time” perfectly captures the essence of this debate.
Nagamootoo’s attempts to reshape the coalition’s damaging legacy into a story of good governance deceive no one, least of all the sugar workers and communities which experienced the harsh effects of his policies.

Meanwhile, President Ali’s transformative vision continues to craft a new chapter in Guyana’s sugar narrative; one focused on worker empowerment, technological progress, and a genuine commitment to the industry’s future.

The sugar workers of Guyana deserve leadership that is honest and future-oriented; one that acknowledges their worth and invests in their well-being.