Opposition reaches out to fired Wales sugar workers

…calls on Govt to assist affected families

By Rupadai Seenaraine

Over 100 sugar workers who were rendered jobless upon the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate were assisted by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party on Saturday.
The fired sugar workers received grocery hampers as a measure of lending support in times of despair.
The affected workers were visited by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and Opposition Members of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill and Anil Nandlall, who expressed that this is the party’s approach in providing support to the former sugar workers in their difficult times.
Bishop Juan Edghill noted that while the workers are willing to work, they are unable to do so due to the fact that they have been terminated from their service to the sugar industry.
He said to the gathering of sugar workers, “You want to work. You were working. The reason why you’re here today is because you’re unable to work because your services have been terminated. This is an act of solidarity. We are standing with you in an act of solidarity in your time of need, in your time of difficulty [and] because of all that is happening.”
Also speaking to the gathering was the Opposition Chief Whip, who explained that proposals were made to the Government in the past to have mechanisms in place to assist persons in obtaining employment in another trade. However, there has been no effective action on the part of the administration to address this issue.
Some of the requests also included to have the lands available for the workers to utilise. Additionally, calls were also made to give the workers their complete severance that they were entitled to, rather than a portion of it.
“We (the Opposition) have called for a number of things for the Government to do for months now. It has fallen on deaf ears. We have called for land to be distributed. We have called for the workers to get all of their severance pay. We have called for to Government to give help on your electricity bill and water bill as we did when we were in Government to the bauxite workers when they were going through difficult times. We have called for training,” Teixeira asserted.

Recently, Teixeira revealed that some $30 billion was allocated towards training in sewing and catering for 20 women for a period of four days.
She commented by saying, “This was a total waste of money. We’re demanding accountability. We’re also demanding that the $100 million training programmes be reallocated to help the sugar workers find other skills, other training and access to small funds to be able to get involved with other kind of activities.”
She noted that the unemployment of the 10,000 workers after the closure of the several estates across Guyana has resulted in an extreme impact on the country. Additionally, the lives of the workers have been greatly affected, especially the women and those that have to provide for their families without the possession of an income.
“What this Government has done to the sugar workers and all workers of the country is something that no Government has done and that is, destroying an industry and sending home thousands of workers. The impact is enormous on the country,” she stated.
The Opposition has stated that they will continue to support the former sugar workers of all the estates that were closed.
Some Venezuelans who migrated back to Guyana in light of the economic crisis were also assisted with hampers during Saturday’s proceedings, while relief was also given to former Skeldon sugar workers a few weeks ago.