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Sugar workers need a plan from the PPP/C to be placed before the nation.

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January 6,2018.

Dear Editor,

Bharrat Jagdeo is playing Russian Roulette with the welfare of sugar workers, which is dangerous. The future of sugar workers is now, and they need a plan from the PPP/C to be placed before this nation which will show that the party really cares about them and is not using their plight only as a means to retake government in 2020. Note is taken of Mr Jagdeo’s press conference where he sought to give the impression his government took a compassionate approach in treating with bauxite workers when it moved to divest the industry, and a benefit he offered these workers was subsidised electricity.

Let me remind the society what happened during the divestment of the bauxite companies. The Jagdeo government refused to engage the bauxite unions, political opposition, and other legitimate stakeholders on the way forward. He visited Kwakwani, Linden and Everton and called on bauxite workers to shun their unions and form themselves into workers committees and he would engage them through this medium. The result of his actions not only saw the breaking up of the workers’ pension plan worth in excess of $2.5 billion, but workers and their communities are still reeling from decisions that did not have the involvement of their representatives, were not properly thought out, and not without political bias aimed at destroying their unions and communities.

The claimed issue of the subsidised electricity in Linden and Kwakwani which Jagdeo touts as a best practice of his administration and should be emulated by this government in treating with sugar workers is deceptive. Electricity, water and community activities in Linden were always subsidised and considered deferred/unseen wages. These benefits were negotiated at the bargaining table by the trade union and the management dating back to Reynolds and Demba, and continued during nationalisation.

Those who didn’t work with the companies and received these benefits were considered as part of corporate responsibility to the communities. Tampering with these benefits without the input of stakeholders risked upheaval as experienced in 2012 when the Donald Ramotar government sought to increase Linden’s electricity tariff. In the case of Kwakwani workers and residents never paid for electricity and water because these were part of deferred wages. They began paying for these under the Jagdeo presidency.

In principle there is no problem if the David Granger/ Moses Nagamootoo government sees the need to extend the benefits bauxite workers fought for and achieved to sugar workers as President Desmond Hoyte did when bauxite workers fought for and achieved tax free overtime and premium hours worked. The nation is being reminded the Jagdeo government took away the tax free benefit from bauxite workers even as he kept it in sugar.

Let me reiterate my dissatisfaction with the manner in which the future of the sugar industry is being handled. At the same time the PPP/C Leader cannot escape being held accountable for creating the situation of uncertainty and anxiety in the industry and among sugar workers. He established the precedent, and whenever he speaks of the treatment these workers are receiving people do not see credibility and sincerity, they seek trickery and political opportunism. When sugar estates were closed during his tenure and the workers laid off there was no stipend paid to them, there was no retraining/re-education opportunities offered, neither was their severance pay honoured consistent with the Collective Labour Agreement. In fact, these workers had to go to court before his government saw it fit to authorise GuySuCo to release this benefit.

Historically the Government of Guyana sought to treat the productive sector (ie sugar and bauxite) equally. This made not only management sense, but also political sense given the dynamics of the industries and the perceived support of the workers. A Jagdeo government that applied henchman tactics to the bauxite workers and their communities and in the closure of sugar estates and towards sugar workers never thought the tables would have turned. This is the same man who gave the instruction to GuySuCo to de-recognise the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). Had he established a positive precedent he would have had the moral authority today to speak from and stand on.

That being said, it does not prevent the PPP/C from putting forward a plan to address the dire conditions in the industry. Just as DDL has indicated its interest in buying some aspect of Enmore Estate, which can guarantee some employment, the PPP/C can come up with similar plans. The willy nilly talks at press conferences will not suffice. Sugar workers are facing an uncertain future and they need solutions to their problems now, not being told that better days are going to come, intimating that this would only be possible should the PPP/C win government. Going by the past sugar workers cannot trust this.

There is a White Paper that was approved in the National Assembly during the Cheddi Jagan presidency that stipulates where state entities are being privatised the minimum of 10 per cent of the shares should be set aside for the workers. When bauxite workers wanted to buy Bermine, the Jadgeo government moved to ensure the purchase was not realised by putting pressure on the partner not to associate with the deal, causing the effort to fold.

Given the way the PPP/C treated with bauxite workers and their communities, the public service, state entities, and the African community which represents a significant portion of the society, there are mixed views today with what is happening in sugar.  The tone was set for creating divisions and it requires much to weld the society together. What the PPP/C should be doing if it is serious about the industry’s future, is just as Jagdeo met with stakeholders across the spectrum to discuss and arrive at nominees for the Chairman of Gecom, a similar approach could be adopted in addressing sugar. Thereafter he can request a meeting with President Granger, whose government has executive responsibility, to constructively engage in arriving at a viable plan.

Citizens/workers have to start holding their leaders accountable to deliver solutions in their interest, be they in politics, trade unions or otherwise, and not be fooled.

Yours faithfully,

Lincoln Lewis

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Django posted:
ksazma posted:

Who is Lincoln Lewis?

Trade Unionist,been around a long time.Considered him to be a fair individual,he says it as it is.

take a peek here

You certainly don’t know Lincoln Lewis. He is a know political racist.

 

FM
Dave posted:
Django posted:
ksazma posted:

Who is Lincoln Lewis?

Trade Unionist,been around a long time.Considered him to be a fair individual,he says it as it is.

take a peek here

You certainly don’t know Lincoln Lewis. He is a know political racist.

 

Djanjo how come you miss this when doing your research .

 


The ramblings of Lincoln Lewis, published by the government controlled Guyana Chronicle, on Sunday, October 8, 2017, under the headline ‘Responding to Bharrat Jagdeo’s baseless accusations’, demand a response – because Lewis, on one hand, states that comments made by the former president were baseless, yet, on the other hand, makes baseless accusations of his own. Lewis’ ranting includes that: “Jagdeo has been involved in numerous violations and transgressions while serving as president of this country and he must be held accountable for the abuse of the privilege granted to him by the people.” He would do well to substantiate his claims.
Lewis goes on to object to the criticism that he, and others, is making a ‘profession’ of representing the interest of Afro-Guyanese people. But then he follows this with a reference to what he stands to gain from testimony he gave to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into Lands – that being his inheritance of land at Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice – land he claims was bought by his great-great-great-great grandfather Cudjoe McPherson – land currently occupied by over 150 families. Whose interest is he representing here?
Lewis’ efforts at ‘representation’, according to him, are not about ‘colour and race’. But the GTUC head should answer the existing questions about where and how his ‘representation’ was advanced and what he benefited from, including on the matter of inveigling himself in a position to access duty free concessions. While he attempts to divert focus by saying that Jagdeo can “only see issues through the lens of race” and says that Jagdeo “flaunts and parades most if not all of the characteristics of an ethnic entrepreneur,” the Guyanese people will not be fooled, more so, those who have worked with Mr. Lewis.
Probably, the most disturbing of Lewis’ baseless accusations is that: “During his (Jagdeo’s) tenure, he executed policies, programmes and acts to make Africans feel they have to grovel and lose their dignity and respect to gain anything in society.” This is the comment coming from a man who accused a former president of seeing issues “through the lens of race” in Guyana. This is the comment coming from a man who ignores basic facts.
The fact is that Afro-Guyanese have experience greater economic mobility under successive People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administrations. One has to ask whether such a comment, after Jagdeo’s visit to Region 10 – long considered the base of the People’s National Congress – is intended to attempt to diminish the fact that Jagdeo has done what this APNU+AFC government has not done, which is to engage Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, gender or any other differentiating factor. The facts surrounding former PPP/C government interventions in Region 10 and the bauxite industry are a matter of public record and Guyanese will not accept the distortion of facts, Mr. Lewis.
Even Lewis’ attempt at ‘balance’ in his article is based on distortion of facts. He states that: “He (Jagdeo) didn’t mind failing to develop a constructive plan to save sugar, but was more driven in misleading the workers that he cared about them by pouring billions into the industry…sugar workers should be incensed that he has used them in furtherance of his agenda and not theirs.” All Lewis had to do was read the PPP/C manifesto, released during the May 2015 General and Regional elections campaign.
It makes clear that: over five years, there would be a $20B investment in the sector; production will be increased, with a focus on 60 per cent mechanization in harvesting and 85 per cent in mechanized cane loading; increased production of packaged sugar to at least 50,000 tonnes; there would be expanded production of bottled molasses as a commercial product for local and international markets; the Albion Ethanol plant will be expanded to produce more and use other substrates, including cassava; that there would be improved management and remuneration to workers; and that there would be continued focus on diversification. Additionally, Jagdeo’ himself has publicly detailed other options for the sugar industry – options that do not center on divestment or on privatisation of the industry. He has also made it clear that any decision on the future of the sugar industry must be based on studies that look at the economic viability of alternatives and at the social consequences of any decisions.
Again, as he did last week, Lewis talks up the “bloodiest period in this nation’s history” and fails to acknowledge that Jagdeo has agreed to the President David Granger’s proposed Commission of Inquiry. He also only briefly mentions that the Granger-led government has failed to activate the Coroner’s Act, passed months ago in the National Assembly.
Finally, Lewis jumps to the conclusion that there was a competition between him and Jagdeo for the attention of bauxite workers, when the former president intervened to support the workers, and goes on to talk about ego. This comment reads more like a case of Lewis being the one with the injured ego, since his ‘imagined’ sense of competition and ego the first thing he talks about in his article. Lewis’ comments can only be chalked up to be the latest in a string of ‘ridiculous’ and unsubstantiated talk from the usual culprits, from whom the Guyanese people can expect nothing else.
Baldeo Mathura

FM

Jagdeo needs to fight for sugar workers.  But not sure if he could do much.  Oil means the PNC has no dire need for the sugar industry.  Granger will extract the state and leave it a coolie problem.  Did the PPP squander their opportunity with the industry?   This is the final push by the PNC to relegate the PPP for the next 5-10 years.  And the Americans have their back!

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Dave posted:
Dave posted:
Django posted:
ksazma posted:

Who is Lincoln Lewis?

Trade Unionist,been around a long time.Considered him to be a fair individual,he says it as it is.

take a peek here

You certainly don’t know Lincoln Lewis. He is a know political racist.

 

Djanjo how come you miss this when doing your research .

 

Are you saying that when the Rat closed the two estates, the sugar workers were well taken care of? Or are you saying that the Rat did not close two estates?

Are you saying that the Rat is not being deceitful about his part in electricity for Lindeners? Or are you saying that the Rat is the person who gave Lindeners free electricity?

A
Dave posted:

Djanjo how come you miss this when doing your research .

 


.
Lewis goes on to object to the criticism that he, and others, is making a ‘profession’ of representing the interest of Afro-Guyanese people. 
Baldeo Mathura

Of course the biggest crime in Guyana is to represent the interests of Afro Guyanese, yet daily we hear screams of Indian this and Indian that.

FACT.  The Afro Guyanese population almost unanimously rejected the PPP in 2001, 2006, 2011, and again in 2015.  They also did so in the LGE in 2016.

Who the HELL are INDIANS to scream how the black population did under the PPP.  If the black population almost unanimously says that they were excluded, marginalized and treated as a subordinated group of people than it is THEY and not some INDIAN who knows what they experienced.

I challenge any Indian to give blacks the right to opine that they as Indians don't have a right to complain about exclusion under the APNU-AFC regime. 

Of course the economy remains in the hands of Indians, some of whom receive lucrative contracts from this majority black regime, and I bet that a whole lot of blacks will rub this in the face of Indians who claim that this regime is racist. 

The question will be do they as blacks have a right to tell Indians what their lived experience under a majority black government is? NO! So who the HELL are you and the rest of your Indo KKK band of black hating bigots to tell blacks who life was for them under the Indocentric PPP!

Accept the fact how Jagdeo treated those who he fired when he shut down estates!  NOT GOOD!  Yet you all follow him uncritically ONLY because he is an INDIAN!

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Carib, all you proving is Blacks are racist.  However, a certain section of Indians (via the AFC) knowingly supported a PNC dominated coming to power.  You should be ashamed!!

FM
caribny posted:
 

FACT.  The Afro Guyanese population almost unanimously rejected the PPP in 2001, 2006, 2011, and again in 2015.  They also did so in the LGE in 2016.

If the black population almost unanimously says that they were excluded, marginalized and treated as a subordinated group of people ......

 

I don't think that blacks reject the PPP because they were excluded, marginalized, etc. I think blacks would stick to the PNC regardless because they always stick with their mattee even if they are starving.

Indians managed better than blacks under the first PNC rule as well as during the PPP rule and probably now under the current PNC rule. Has nothing to do with who is in government. Indians know how to survive. Blacks suffered under Burnham and Hoyte's PNC government yet they flocked to vote for the PNC. When Trotman was the AFC Presidential candidate, they supported the AFC but they ran away from the AFC when Ramjattan was the Presidential candidate. Those are indisputable facts about blacks voting habits.

FM
ksazma posted:
caribny posted:
 

FACT.  The Afro Guyanese population almost unanimously rejected the PPP in 2001, 2006, 2011, and again in 2015.  They also did so in the LGE in 2016.

If the black population almost unanimously says that they were excluded, marginalized and treated as a subordinated group of people ......

 

I don't think that blacks reject the PPP because they were excluded, marginalized, etc. I think blacks would stick to the PNC regardless because they always stick with their mattee even if they are starving.

Indians managed better than blacks under the first PNC rule as well as during the PPP rule and probably now under the current PNC rule. Has nothing to do with who is in government. Indians know how to survive. Blacks suffered under Burnham and Hoyte's PNC government yet they flocked to vote for the PNC. When Trotman was the AFC Presidential candidate, they supported the AFC but they ran away from the AFC when Ramjattan was the Presidential candidate. Those are indisputable facts about blacks voting habits.

Carib doesn't want to hear this. He thinks blacks are people who do not entertain any hatred of Indians and such they are not racists. Whether they starve, they will still vote PNC. The Indians who voted for the AFC knew that the AFC was part of the PNC and yet they voted for them Those Indians voted for the PNC. Period.

FM

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