GAWU says no to GuySuCo privatisation

THE Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken a position against the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry to privatise the sugar industry.President of the union, Komal Chand, told members of the media that even though the union was yet to become conversant with the main findings of the CoI, the union was steadfastly opposed to the recommendation to have the company moved from being state-owned to being privately-owned.
This, the union said, holds the promise of many troubles, especially for the workers, and even for the economy.

The union said it had stood against the recommendation before, and is reiterating its disagreement that privatisation would be the solution to the financial woes now facing the sugar industry.

“As to privatisation, we passed through that era. For the workers, that era was painful, bloody, brutal and ruthless; and the industry gave us several martyrs out of the many struggles that took place. We do not need to go back to that time,” GAWU said. If private owners can do it, so can the State!

The union is arguing that the State is no less capable of handling the affairs of the sugar industry than any private entity. Being cognisant that sugar plays an integral part in our country’s economy and history, the State should be the ideal owners of GuySuCo, and to remove it from the current financial difficulties it now faces,” GAWU contends. “This process would allow for the country to strengthen its economic independence,” it said, adding: “We are confident it can rise out of its current difficulties without having to be sold off.”

The CoI suggested that until GuySuCo is privatised, the government should provide financial support to the industry on a timely basis. The commission also urged the government to remove all assets, activities and operations currently associated with GuySuCo, and in the interim of this transition of ownership, the IMC should focus on field, factory and infrastructural rehabilitation. The report also revealed that a few expressions of interest, both formal and informal, have been received.

The Commission of Inquiry also recommended that no new projects should be undertaken, as this would decrease the opportunity for sale. It also suggested that no estate must be closed at this time. In contrast to this, however, according to the union, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said that canes from Wales Estate would be ground at Uitvlugt Estate. The union reasoned that this development would allow for closure of the Wales factory. The union is asking why should such a decision be made when the high-cost Commission of Inquiry requested that a study be done regarding the operations of the two West Demerara Estates.

GAWU is worried that the situation which existed in 1978 when the Versailles Sugar Factory was closed would recur. That closure assured the cultivation workers of that factory that the cane would be transported via the newly-dug waterway linking Versailles and Leonora Estates.

According to GAWU, that waterway never served its purpose, and all of the workers lost their jobs. The union is of the opinion that this decision put forth by Minister Joe Harmon will allow for a recurrence of hundreds being unemployed.

The GAWU stands firm on its position against the recommendation made by the commission to privatise the sugar industry. “Sugar is still a sustainable business in Guyana, and the State entity should manage this company,” Chand said.