Combat aprilmay2017

Issue#2 Volume#38

Combat

EDITORIAL

Trying times for the workers of Guyana

The recently held Labour Day observances, which were characterized by a united march and rally for the second consecutive year, put in perspective aptly the challenges and difficulties which are being faced by the working people. The various trade unionists all called to attention the plight of the workers and their families, and the difficult choices that have to be made more often these days. Quite rightly, they concluded that Labour Day 2017 saw the workers confronted by declining living standards, a reduction in real income, job losses, and dimming hope for the promised ‘Good Life’ In recent weeks, the media has reported quite often about the weakening Guyana dollar. While there have been attempts by the Administration to deflect from the obviously worrying news, those attempts have been largely futile. The fact remains that the dollar has devalued by not less than twelve (12) per cent in the last two (2) years. In these circumstances, we see efforts by the Government seeking to influence exchange rates, which will serve to make a bad situation worse, as official statistics have told us that our Foreign Exchange reserves are on the decline. This is not good news, especially for small economies such as Guyana’s.

In such circumstances, the cost of many imported essential items have shot up and are evaporating any increases in pay that may have been received by workers in the past two (2) years. In fact, some workers, are now forced to cut back on consumption, and therefore they are being pushed closer to, or in some cases over, the poverty line. This is indeed disturbing news, especially in view of the declining rates of moderate and extreme poverty recorded over the last quarter century.

Alongside the foreign exchange crisis, the workers and their families have new and heavy burdens to fetch on their already overburdened backs. Nowa-days, they are required to pay taxes on previously untaxed necessary and essential goods and services.

They must also contend with new taxes or hiked tax rates; the restriction of certain types of goods; increased costs for government services, among other things. It was not surprising that inflation between January 2016 and January, 2017 was as high as 2.4 per cent, considering that inflation previously was a fraction of a per cent, or in some cases negative. The new tax measures are also taking their toll, as the Ministry of Finance recently informed that tax revenues for January, 2017 were 42.7 per cent higher when compared with January, 2016. This is money largely taken away from workers and their families.

Continued on page twelve (12)

COMBAT

April-May, 2017

Voice of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)

April-May, 2017

Government ‘State Paper’ on sugar will haunt Guyanese for a long time

Workers, residents, and others of Rose Hall Estate staged a march on May 16, 2017. The people are staunchly opposed to plans by the Government and the GuySuCo to close their estate at year-end. The closure of Rose Hall, among other things, is advanced by the recently presented State Paper on sugar.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has examined the Government’s State Paper on the future of the Sugar Industry in Guyana, which was presented to the National Assembly on May 08, 2017. The paper, unsurprisingly, largely confirms what has been widely said by Administration spokespersons in recent times. The GAWU is disheartened that the “hard decisions” - as Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman described them on Labour Day - will serve to wreck the lives of thousands of ordinary, decent, hard-working Guyanese and reduce vibrant and robust rural economies to a shell of their current selves.

The paper does very little to quell our strong and significant concerns about the plans for sugar, which we have registered with the Government and have shared publicly as well. We see the paper as largely a repetition of what we have previously heard from officials of the Government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), much of which we had reasons to disagree with. It seems that the Administration’s ploy is to repeat their glaringly incorrect and outrageous conclusions often enough for them to be accepted as the truth. This is indeed unfortunate, as the thousands of sugar workers and the wider Guyanese nation are wiser than the Gov-

ernment seems to think and believe.

The Government, in seeking to justify these sad plans, has called to attention the reduction of the number of sugar estates over time, but this is just half of the picture.

While factories and estates were consolidated throughout the years, sugar production rose and cost of production declined as a result of economies of scale among other efficiency improvements. This time around, however, the Executive is promoting policies which will contract production while the effects on cost are not yet clear.

The paper goes on to state that the Government “…is expected to demonstrate prudent management of public resources under its control”. This is a statement we wholly endorse, and thus we are perplexed that while the Administration is sometimes saying the right things, it continues to take imprudent decisions. We see the plans for sugar exacerbating the already trying social situation in our country. The problems that will be spawned from the ideas contained in the sugar paper will require large sums from the Treasury to address and remedy, and this course seems to be most imprudent.

Continued on page three (3) PAGE ONE

Education tax could nullify future national development

Labour Day 2017 resolutions

Parents, students, and other concerned Guyanese staging a picketing exercise against the imposition of VAT on Private Education. Calls for the Government to abandon its decision have fallen on deaf ears, so far.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), as the nation’s most representative organization of registered workers of Guyana, has been following closely the unfolding situation regarding the imposition of Value Added Tax on Education. Having considered this matter from different perspectives, it is our view that the privately-run schools, at this juncture of our country’s development and with the economic straits that we are facing, are playing a positive role in our education system. Indeed, we believe, it to be a laudable feature that is supplementing our national public school system; which experiences, in instances, certain strains and inadequacies. With this in mind, it would appear that parents should not be discouraged if they opt to send their children to private school.

Let us be reminded that education is seen as key to removing our people from poverty, and one would think this suggests that hurdles would not be thrown in the path of those who are pursuing it, whether in state or privately-run schools.

VAT on Education, given the Government’s stated emphasis on education, is certainly an unwise and clearly unpopular decision. FITUG urges a reconsideration of this measure, especially in light of the multiple tax measures which are to

be borne by the people and the effects it has on the living standards of our working people. Moreover, the massive tax revenues amassed, according to information, would strengthen the call to revisit this matter with a view to rescind such a tax, as FITUG calls for. VAT on Education has coincided with the massive hike in the University of Guyana tuition, which will almost certainly lead to denying many youngsters the opportunity to acquire tertiary education. With the reduction of job opportunities arising from the deteriorating economic circumstances and now a high cost of education, the future for many youths, especially those from poor backgrounds, seems bleak at this time.

The Federation stands in solidarity with the Guyana Private School United (GPSU) movement and is supportive of its call for the Government to abandon this wrong policy. We call on the coalition regime to recognize that this tax will impact negatively on the education and future of a multitude of our youthful citizens. We urge the government to take into account the adverse effects that these measures can have on national development now, and in the future. In our view, the revocation of these decisions is just common sense.

“Capitalist barbarism, crisis and Imperialist wars,

or socialism” COMBAT

April-May, 2017

On the sugar industry Aware that the sugar industry remains the country’s largest employer, with some 17,000 workers, and indirectly supports tens of thousands of Guyanese; Aware further that, in recent times, the ranks of the unemployed in our country have been swelling, arising from a reduction in economic activity and the shuttering of several enterprises; Aware further that as a result of challenges being faced by the industry, the Government is actively contemplating the industry’s further minimization through estate closures and sell-out; Aware further that such policies will see around 9,000 workers being pushed onto the breadline and very many more being indirectly affected, further worsening the currently prevailing bad situation; Convinced that the industry is capable of surmounting its challenges and becoming viable and sustainable through diversification such as production of electricity, white refined sugar and alcohol, among other things, and Resolves that this 2017 GAWU Labour Day Rally, being held at the Port Mourant Community Centre on this 1st day of May, 2017, calls on the Government to resist plans, ideas and thoughts would will result in the industry’s miniaturization and to examine the viable plans which can safeguard the industry and allow it to play a more meaningful role in advancing our country’s development and progress.

On taxes and other cost-of-living burdens

Aware that the workers of Guyana are confronting a steadily increasing costof-living, and this was confirmed by the Ministry of Finance, which advised that between January, 2016 and January, 2017 inflation was 2.4 per cent; Aware further that the unusual rise in the price of goods and services is influenced by, among other things, the imposition of taxes on essential items, the hiking and introduction of new taxes and fees for Government services, and a depreciating Guyana dollar; Aware further that, through the tax and other fiscal measures enacted by Government, the Ministry of Finance informed that tax revenues for January, 2017 have increased by 42.3 per cent when compared with January, 2016, indicative of the heavy burdens being placed on the backs of the Guyanese working-people; Resolves that this 2017 GAWU Labour Day Rally, being held at the Port Mourant Community Centre on this 1st day of May, 2017, calls on the Government of Guyana to withdraw the harsh measures it imposed through the 2016 and 2017 National Budgets, and Resolves further that the Government of Guyana, in order to bring some relief to all Guyanese, re-institutes the electricity and water subsidies to old-age pensioners, and the monetary grant to all schoolage children, and to consider other worthwhile measures which would spur employment and consumption PAGE TWO

Government ‘State Paper’ on sugar will haunt Guyanese for a long time

The State Paper on sugar envisages, from left that Skeldon Estate would be divested, and Rose Hall and Enmore Estates would be closed

Continued from page one (1) We also recognize the obvious, glaring anomaly when it is said that GuySuCo’s production up to 1992 averaged as much as 328,000 tonnes sugar per annum. This is simply not true. As our historians/researchers would recall, GuySuCo came into being in 1976 and our records indicate that between 1976 and 1992, average production was 245,075 tonnes sugar. The paper then goes on to point out the industry’s real challenge, a 14 per cent decline in land productivity and a 10 per cent decline in factory productivity. Given the significance of the issue, no explanation of any sort was provided. Sugar and GuySuCo in the past have faced similar, if not worse, conditions and have surmounted them. For a nation producing sugar for such a long period, it is disheartening that we cannot come to grips with the challenges in the industry. It seems to us that there is more a lack of will than way.

Unsurprisingly and not unexpectedly, sugar’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen. Aside from a reduced production, we cannot fail to point out that, in 2006, new sectors were included in our GDP computation. Quite obviously, the same pie with more slices will lend to some sort of reduction. We also hasten to point out that, of all the sectors compared in the paper, only sugar, rice and other agriculture are sustainable industries. The contributions of the others will decline as the resources become exhausted.

Attention is also paid to the number of employees in the industry. Here again, we see some deception emerging.

We are told that about 28,000 persons were employed in 1992; this was simply not the case. But like the paper says, at this time “GuySuCo is the country’s single largest employer…” this is a fact that should not be lost in the debates and discussions that will ensue. We wonder, given an environment of reducing job opportunities and increasing unemployment, how ‘prudent’ are the thoughts contained in the paper presented.

We are also told that there has been a sharp decline in the industry’s workforce between 2006 and 2015. What is not said, however, is that the industry’s mechanization programme was intended to address the very issue. Significant sums have already been invested by GuySuCo to convert its fields for mechanical operations. Moreover, we must remind that GuySuCo told the Parliamentary Economic Services Committee in 2014 that mechanization would reduce costs by 20 per cent per annum and would cost $14B, an investment that would be repaid in two and a half years. It is dismaying, given the positive spinoffs to be had, that mechanization in sugar is not COMBAT

April-May, 2017

even considered, as is evidenced by the rejection of CDB funds for further mechanization.

In addressing labour, concerns are also raised about worker turnout, but as far as we are aware, no serious examination has been done to determine why this is so.

The Corporation should find it strange that in a tightening labour market, the situation remains what it is.

GuySuCo and the Government are reminded that the industry experienced similar circumstances in the latter 1980s and these were corrected when rates-of-pay were aligned with cost-of-living. It seems that the Corporation, rather than learning from previous experiences, is repeating its shortcomings of the past.

Regarding the reference to unstable and adversarial industrial relations climate, there is the often repeated point about strikes. As we have said before, and reiterate once more, the bulk of the strikes that took place were related to disputes surrounding workers’ demands for compensation to undertake tasks in abnormal conditions such as grassy, vine-infested cane fields, or in defending their gains which were threatened by some ‘bully bosses’. There is a negative correlation between such disputes and cane yields. Higher yields reduce abnormalities, which give rise to those disputes. Thus the answer to have reduced strikes is fairly simple – have more canes in the fields and also an able management.

We also share the view that the changes in Europe do pose challenges. But here we must again point out that our industry has possibilities to sell sugar to non-traditional European buyers, and can have the protection afforded by Geographical Indicators for the terms ‘Demerara Sugar’ and ‘Demerara Molasses’ in that continent. Moreover, compared to our Caribbean counterparts, we possess many comparative advantages which enhance our prospects.

Again, we also see the level of Government support being called to attention. We take the figures quoted

with a pinch of salt. We hold that with the proper elements – the present workforce, a capable management and supportive shareholder – Government support will be required for a period as the industry moves to turn around itself, which we remain convinced is quite possible and a feat accomplished before.

The talk about closing estates and replacing their operations with non-sugar ventures is ill-considered, and is surely, but not the only, major blunder. As the Wales’ experience has shown us nothing is being done in this direction, but hundreds are left high and dry without a clue of what their tomorrow will bring. We ask again How can any Government bring itself to condemn thousands of its people to such misery and hardship?

It is disheartening for us to register that our 12-page paper which we shared with the Administration in February was apparently not considered. Neither the paper nor the Government has debunked our Union’s suggestions as being incorrect, wrong or unrealistic in any way.

We hold strongly that our suggestions offer the industry a good possibility to overcome its challenges and remain a sustainable entity.

It appears to us that the ‘consultations’ the Government organized were simply a ploy to give the impression of consultation, as it seeks to deploy its nefarious plans to harm workers and their families and scar the Guyanese nation for generations to come.

At this time, our Union calls on the Administration and the sugar company to undo all steps taken, or halt those that are about to be taken in implementing the direction for the industry, as outlined in the ‘State Paper’. We also strongly support the call that the affected workers receive their normal work or be paid in lieu of work. Furthermore, we urge that the paper be urgently debated in the National Assembly, and discussed among the workers and their representative organisations in the industry, especially.

PAGE THREE

GAWU’s President, Komal Chand tells WFTU Presidential Council

We live in tumultuous and troubling yet exciting times tions goes on unabatedly. The threat of a World War with the use of nuclear weapons is today real.

President Trump, his generals and billionaire Administration seem unable to live up to his ‘peace’ approach promise, and the powerful military-industrial security complex is prevailing, apparently.

Comrades, as workers’ representatives, we cannot ignore the phenomenon of the emergence and wide appeal of fascist and extreme rightist parties, which are vigorously selling their agenda based on nationalism, anti-immigrants/refugees, and xenophobia. Apart from such developments in Europe, we must also recognize the manifestations of this phenomenon in South America. This turn rightward cannot be delinked from the machinations of US Imperialism, which encourages and is supportive of local reactionaries bent on dismantling the gains made by previous progressive governments.

At this moment, Venezuela is in imperialism’s cross hairs, and the situation there warants our full solidarity with the Government and democratic and progressive forces.

The WFTU Presidential Council at the meeting which was held in Havana, Cuba on May 03 and 04, 2017

I bring you greetings from my union. Our meeting here in Cuba, at this time, can be considered as bitter-sweet.

This small island nation has always stood on the side of the exploited, oppressed and poor. It also stands out for its heroism by being principled in the face of the many attempts by US imperialism to defeat the Cuban Revolution and undermine its achievements. Sadly, our meeting is taking place just a few months after the passing of cuba’s and the Revolution’s indefatigable leader, Fidel Castro Ruiz.

Cde Fidel was one of the twentieth century’s foremost revolutionaries. Beyond Cuba, his influence and charisma were felt by people from all corners of the world.

Under his leadership, Cuba became a bulwark against colonialism and imperialism; while, in spite of difficult economic circumstances, the lives of the Cuban people were steadily being improved. This improvement is reflected in the fact that life expectancy in Cuba has moved from 59 years in 1959, when the revolution triumphed, to 89 years today. Our union - GAWU - has historically stood by Cuba, and today declares our continuing solidarity and support in its current tasks, and efforts to end the embargo and safeguard its sovereignty.

Comrades, workers, and progressive forces the world over have suffered a major and grievous loss with the passing of Cde Fidel. This monumental historical figure who inspired millions is no longer among us but his life’s accomplishments, the intemationalism he embraced, and his homeland, Cuba, will be enduring reminders of his legacy, and - I am sure - will continue to motivate future generations to struggle for a just, peaceful, and humane world order.

From this forum, comrades, allow me, on behalf of the COMBAT

April-May, 2017

GAWU, to again pay respects to our dear Cde Fidel and to reiterate our strong solidarity with the Government and people of Cuba.

At this time, comrades, permit me some brief remarks regarding the situation in Guyana. In the two (2) years since a new Govemment took over, the economic and social situation has rapidly deteriorated, and best appreciated when one considers that some 200 hiked and new taxes have been piled onto the people’s backs. There is ferment all across the country. More and more, the State is resorting to repressive actions to suppress the growing struggles of the people.

At this time, our Union and its membership are coming under severe pressure as the Govemment stubbornly and senselessly pursues a policy of closure of several sugar estates and privatisation of another. Hundreds of workers have already lost their jobs, and some 9,000 more are almost certainly going to join the breadline. My Union mainly represents these workers from the sugar industry, and there is a plausible view that this assault on the industry has the aim to minimize the union’s strength and undermine its militancy. In this situation, we look forward to the WFTU’s continuing solidarity.

Comrades, we are meeting also in tumultuous and troubling times. The economic/financial crises which have led to austerity and increasing inequality are still around. The Oxford Committee for Famine Reiief (OXFAM) tells us that there is obscenity whereby eight (8) persons own as much wealth as roughly 3.6 billion people.

The militarism spawned by capitalism/imperialism to advance its economic interests and hegemonic aspira-

Comrades, we recognize also that the climate change threat has grown, and is still not adequately addressed by Govemments, especially some of those which have a big responsibility for today’s ecological challenges. In this regard, we must insist that recalcitrant governments adequately address this threat, even as we must support the forces that are on the frontlines of this battle.

Meeting at this juncture in world developments, we cannot fail to take note of the working class upheavals; massive protest activities of progressive social forces; various resistance actions taking place - and moreover, from within imperialist countries.In the UK and US, interestingly, even the word ‘socialism’ is not seen as a bad word, as was the case in former vears.

Are these developments the harbinger of deep-seated changes? The overwhelming majority of the World’s people, as we know, desire change that will meaningfully grapple with injustice, inequality, uncalled for violence, and destruction of people’s lives, and for peace, democratic and human values to guide policies. There is a rise in the fight for these objectives.

We of the WFTU must continue to give leadership in these times, demanding as the situation is. As one of the primary organisations of the international working-class, the WFTU has a proud history of responding to challenges, and I am optimistic that we will again live up to our responsibilities in these trying, yet exciting times.

Let us go on to fresh victories, comrades!

Long live the WFTU! Long live Intemational Solidarity!

PAGE FOUR

GAWU Assistant GS attends CCL workshop in Jamaica

The partcipants during one of the workshop sessions

Assistant General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Cde Aslim Singh as a representative of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) attended a five (5) day workshop entitled “Strengthening Trade Union’s Understanding and Application of Research Methodology” from May 08 – 12, 2017 in Kingston, Jamaica.

The workshop which was sponsored by the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) was facilitated by the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Education Institute of the University of West Indies Mona Campus. Some thirty (30) unionists from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and Belize attended the workshop.

The workshop sought to enhance trade unions capacity in order for them to playing a more meaningful role in policy making at the national level and to contribute to the development of sound economic policy positions at the national and regional levels. During the five (5) days participants were exposed to various

techniques in conducting quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative research refers to using statistical methods to analyse data collected usually through questionnaires and to draw conclusions therefrom. Qualitative research speaks to using methods such as interviewing to acquire data which is then analysed and conclusions had.

The participants learnt about the research process and how to conduct research using different tools and methods.

Moreover, various methods to analyse secondary data and how to access international and regional data was also discussed and imparted. During the workshop, participants undertook a number of practical exercises towards enhancing their understanding of the techniques being thought.

The participants on their return home are expected to utilize new skills towards the advancement of their organisations.

Furthermore, they have been tasked with preparing articles, using research methods they acquired, for submission to the CCL, within a certain period, for publication.

GAWU and CRML commence 2017 negotiations The Management of Caricom Rice Mills Limited (CRML) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) are engaged from May 18, 2017 in periodic meetings in addressing a pay increase for year 2017 for the Company’s employees.

GAWU is seeking to obtain a wage hike of fifteen (15) per cent. Also, under disCOMBAT

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cussion is a yearly bonus payment for workers payable in November/December every year.

Caricom Rice Mills Limited is a subsidiary company of the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies based in St. Lucia.

It has been operating at Anna Regina, Essequibo since 1997.

‘Downsizing’ not the right option for sugar The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) took note of the Kaieteur News editorial of May 03, 2017 titled “Downsizing will save GuySuCo”. Our Union acknowledges that the media plays an important role in society and while being respectful of Freedom of the Press we also believe that it is incumbent upon us to offer some clarity bearing in mind that the editorial is reflective of the newspaper’s position.

While the paper, has quoted President David Granger who said “we want to save the sugar workers’ jobs”. The fact is that as a result of the Administration’s policy to sugar, 9,000 workers stand to be affected and thousands more will also be caught up by the short-sighted plans being advocated.

The editorial also charged that the sugar industry cannot be saved unless some estates are closed or sold out. We, however, share a differing view. Our long association with sugar has taught us that the industry can overcome its difficulties; it has demonstrated this time and again. In the past, sugar faced worse challenges and rebounded and we hold such feats are attainable once more.

Moreover, the industry, for whatever reason, continues to be seen only as a raw bulk sugar producer, therefore, causing incorrect conclusions to be drawn. The fact is the industry needs to move to become a sugar cane industry harnessing the full potential of the versatile plant.

We envisage the industry moving into the production of white refined sugar, direct consumption brown sugar, possibly ethanol, alcohol, and electricity. Such an expanded diversification will serve to engender the industry’s viability and as the editorial puts it “…make it more competitive, financially independent and sustainable, and will create more good-paying jobs as well as contribute to economic prosperity of the country.”

We hold that that the industry’s cutting down as envisaged by the Administration will bring to bear greater hardship and difficulties for the peoples and communities connected to sugar. The proof is in the pudding. We see at Wales once vibrant and bustling communities have, seemingly, had their lives sucked out.

Gloom is now the order of the day. For us it is disheartening that given the known consequences, we see plans advocated which will certainly exacerbate rather than alleviate the problems.

The editorial calls to attention the level of support given to the industry by the current and past Government. We hasten to point out that between the two (2) Governments, some $48B was provided to GuySuCo. Moreover, isn’t it perplexing

that the APNU/AFC Government provided significant sums to the industry yet in 2016 production fell to its lowest since 1990. Something is clearly wrong in the industry’s leadership. On the industry’s indebtedness, we urge that a breakdown be sought, it will be revealing and an enlightening expose.

The industry’s financial predicament is largely due to the poor production levels being recorded. For an industry in which a significant proportion of costs are fixed, lower production levels will push up the cost-of-production. This is elementary accounting and seems to be lost in the discussions. Thus higher production lends to lower costs. Also, for an industry which is now nearly four (4) centuries old and one which the science of cane cultivation is well-established, the production levels being recorded ought to be raising eyebrows.

We ask how it is the closure and sell-out of estates are right for the country and the sugar workers, especially when there is seemingly no real plan to address the large unemployment that would emerge.

Even the IMF recently warned the Administration to take into account such factors in addressing sugar’s future. The talk about non-sugar diversification remains just that – mere talk. So far, Wales which should have been the launching pad for this initiative remains a blank canvas and the people there are confronted by misery and hardship.

While the editorial has chosen to label the Skeldon investment as “doomed”. We ask how is it that investors are lining up to take over this “doomed” estate. Doesn’t it defy business logic? Recently, we read in a letter appearing in the Kaieteur News about the windfall that awaits the investors in Skeldon. Certainly, this windfall should be GuySuCo’s and Guyana’s.

We also wish to advise the Kaieteur News, that contrary to what the editorial says sugar is still being produced in Jamaica and Barbados. Only recently, a conference was held in Jamaica to devise ways to secure that country’s industry along the lines our Union has suggested for GuySuCo. If the Jamaicans are doing right, why is there the view that we are wrong?

While the editorial argues that GuySuCo is bleeding the treasury, we hasten to ask what about those several years when the treasury bled GuySuCo through the sugar levy for instance. Moreover, the miniaturization, if pursued, will cause the treasury to fork out large sums, perhaps larger, to deal with the social consequences that would emerge. We remain steadfast in our view that ‘downsizing’ is not the right option for sugar.

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INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL

The Peace Movement stands in solidarity with Venezuela

- statement on Venezuela by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) and the Black Alliance for Peace Street, oil production around the world has been kept high, driving down the price, which hurts oil-dependent economies, including those of countries that the U.S. opposes, such as Russia and Iran, in addition to Venezuela.

The U.S. media also has been full of stories Opposition protesters in Venezuela have repeatedly used molotovs and other makeshift explosive devic- of Venezuelan es against authorities and government buildings. supermarkets with near-empThe United States has been conducting a brutal, 20-year-long campaign of destabilization against Ven- ty shelves and long lines of people seeking basic necesezuela in an attempt to cause “regime change” in that sities. What hasn’t been reported is that the privately country. This has taken the form of economic sabotage owned food corporations are deliberately hoarding supand financial manipulation as well as support for the mobilization of right-wing forces in increasingly violent demonstrations.

This is not a recent policy but one that has also been By Bill Van Auken carried out under the Obama and Bush administrations Health authorities in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a have as well as the present Trump administration. In 2002, right-wing forces inside Venezuela attempted a coup declared a state of emergency as a rapidly spreading against then-President Hugo Chavez. Many sources have cholera epidemic has claimed the lives of over 180 peoconfirmed that the U.S. gave the go-ahead to the oppo- ple in the span of little more than two weeks. The health sition to orchestrate the coup and promised support. ministry reported that there have been 11,034 suspected Soon after the coup, the people of Venezuela turned out cholera cases reported across several Yemeni provinces. in the streets in massive numbers and restored Chavez The disease is rarely seen and easily treatable in poputo the presidency. lations with ready access to food and clean water. It has Barack Obama continued the assault on the Venezuelan revolution by imposing crippling sanctions and the potential to wreak a catastrophic death toll, particuasserting that Venezuela was a “security threat” to the larly among children in Yemen. The country’s basic inUnited States. These attacks from the U.S. exemplify at- frastructure, including water, sanitation and health care tempts to realize full-spectrum dominance, the epitome systems, has been laid waste by a US-backed bombing of imperialist intervention which has brought so much campaign that has been waged by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for over two years. suffering to the world.

Some of the very same opposition leaders who were The systematic targeting of health care facilities has left involved in the 2002 coup attempt are today behind the present unrest, which has seen well-financed opposition barely 45 per cent of the country’s hospitals still funcforces leading violent protests against the government of tioning, while the blockade imposed upon the country, Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. corporate media has report- with the aid of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has cut the suped on these actions but has blamed the violence on the ply of essential medicines by more than 70 per cent.

Venezuelan government and has not reported the huge Two thirds of the population have no access to safe mobilizations in defense of the Maduro government.

Now a bipartisan bill has been submitted in the Sen- drinking water, while the cutoff of food imports has ate (S.1018) with the intention of further destabilizing placed 17 million Yemenis at imminent risk of famine, while leaving three million malnourished Yemeni chilVenezuela.

The economic crises in Venezuela is severe. The Venezu- dren in “grave peril” of death, according to the United elan economy is dependent on its large oil resources. The Nations. Under these conditions, cholera can spread like oil has been nationalized since 1976, but there has been wildfire. a continual push from U.S. interests as well as wealthy In the clearest signal yet that Washington is preparing Venezuelans to privatize it. Though the oil remains nationalized, the refining, transportation, and markets are to substantially escalate the US support for this crimiall private and have been used to undercut the ability of nal war the Trump White House has organized back-tothe oil industry to support the economy. Additionally, back meetings and massive arms deals with the crowned in the past few years, with the encouragement of Wall rulers of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Trump welcomed to the White House Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the

plies intended for working-class neighborhoods while making sure that food and other goods are readily available in the wealthier areas.

The Bolivarian Revolution has always endeavored to be an ally of the people of United States and to extend a hand of friendship and solidarity. When the U.S. government turned its back on the people of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Venezuelan government offered humanitarian aid but was rebuffed.

Venezuela provided fuel assistance to low-income Black and Brown people when the U.S. government would not.

These acts reinforced the strong support that many in the Black community had for the process in Venezuela and deepened the commitment of Black activists to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their process. This support is in line with the long-standing Black radical tradition of defending nations under imperialist attack by the U.S. government.

The defeat of the Bolivarian Revolution at the hands of U.S. imperialism and its reactionary right-wing allies in Venezuela would be a defeat for progressive forces all over the world and a disaster for the people of Venezuela and its people, as it has been in Libya and Ukraine and Haiti and every nation that has lost its sovereignty to the two-party commitment to imperialist intervention.

Yemenis dying of cholera as Trump meets with UAE ruler

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crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the de facto ruler of the UAE. Trump appeared with the royal dictator in the Oval Office. On the eve of the UAE ruler’s visit, the US State Department gave its approval for a $2 billion deal under which Lockheed Martin and Raytheon will provide the oil sheikdom with Patriot missile systems.

Trump’s meeting with Sheikh Mohamed is to be followed by his first overseas trip since taking office. The first stop is Saudi Arabia. As with the UAE, Trump’s meeting with the dictatorial Wahhabi monarchy in Riyadh is being accompanied by another massive US arms deal.

In March, US Defense Secretary James Mattis formally requested approval for stepped-up Pentagon support for the Saudi war in Yemen. A memo submitted to the White House claimed that such aid would serve to combat “a common threat” supposedly posed by Iran, US imperialism’s principal regional rival for hegemony over the oil-rich Middle East.

The immediate aim of an increase in US military aid is to support a planned operation by UAE military forces to seize Hodeida, the country’s main port, through which 70 per cent of the country’s imports now flow.

The taking of the port would tighten the stranglehold imposed by the naval blockade, potentially condemning millions to death by starvation.

The more far-reaching objective being pursued by Washington is the imposition of US imperialist hegemony across the Middle East through a military confrontation with Iran and the preparation for a global conflict with Washington’s principal rivals, Russia and China.

PAGE SIX

INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL | INTERNATIONAL

Major developments strongly suggest the end of unipolar world order

Newly-elected South Korean President Moon Jae-In

By Federico Pieraccini With Moon Jae-In’s victory in South Korea, the period of tension on the Korean Peninsula is likely to end. With the rise to power of the new president, South Korea can expect a sharp decline in hostilities with North Korea ,as well as a resumption of dialogue with China.

An expected, a highly anticipated victory was confirmed in South Korea on May 9, with candidate Moon winning South Korea’s presidential race over his rivals, Hong Joon-pyo (Liberty Korea Party) and Ahn Cheol-soo (People’s Party). After the resignation and arrest of former President Park Geun-hye over an immense corruption scandal, public opinion turned away from her party in favour of the main opposition representative, a center-left lawyer specializing in humanitarian issues.

Moon spent several years in the opposition party advocating for greater cooperation in the region and dialogue with Pyongyang as well as with Beijing, representing quite a contrast to Guen-Hye’s pro-Americanism.

Along the lines of Duterte in the Philippines, Moon intends to resume dialogue with all partners in order not to limit his options in the international arena. Such an approach reflects the essence of the multipolar world order: cooperation and dialogue with all partners in order to achieve a win-win outcome.

Looking at the situation in the region, the victory of a politician who seems to have every intention of negotiating an agreement rather than supporting military escalation seems to provide for a hopeful future for China and her neighbours. The level of cooperation and trade between South Korea and China is fundamental to the economy of both countries, so a return to the negotiating table over the issues surrounding the deployment of THAAD are a hopeful sign that the business communities of China and South Korea value deeply.

Duterte Strategy The United States is again faced with a Filipino-like scenario. Historically, South Korea and the Philippines have always been two fundamental US allies, more concerned COMBAT

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with Washington’s interests than their own national political agendas. Over the last few decades, both countries have been governed by politicians careful not to upset the sensibilities of US policy makers.

South Korea and the Philippines are at the heart of the political strategy Obama called the Asian Pivot, more explicitly, a policy aimed at containing China and its expansion as a regional hegemon in Asia.

Following the Trump Administration’s focus and threats against North Korea in recent weeks, war has seemed more likely on the peninsula. But with Moon’s victory, it has probably been permanently excluded as a possibility. In several interviews weeks prior to the election, Moon stated that a war between the US and North Korea would constitute an impossible burden for South Korea to sustain. Moon is very realistic about the conventional deterrence that North Korea possesses, maybe even more so than the nuclear development.

Even though Trump has said he is willing to meet with Kim Jong-un, most of his decisions seem to depend on the hawks surrounding him. Looking at the first hundred days of the Trump Administration shows a remarkable departure from electoral promises, with the influence of generals he nominated leading to various escalations in the hot regions of the world. Bottom line is that, Trump’s intentions and words matter to a certain extent as US posture in the region seems to be guided by military generals and inner circle family members.

Fortunately for the world, the tentative moves in Syria and Afghanistan have not amounted to much, such as with the bombing of the Shayrat airbase or the show in Afghanistan involving the MOAB. THAAD to Divide The deployment of the THAAD system continues as part of a belligerent attitude towards North Korea. The strong and firm rhetoric of Pyongyang is justified, and not surprising given the context and the threats facing the country in wake of US provocations. The deployment of THAAD has had consequences, such as increasing tensions between South Korea and China. Moon’s victory goes contrary to the goal of the US policy-makers in Washington - to isolate China. In this light, the hurried deployment of THAAD before the South Korean election obliged the probable winner, Moon, to be faced with an accomplished fact. This first step makes it clear what Washington’s attitude towards the new South Korean president would be.

The THAAD has also been deployed to antagonize the most frustrating point between Seoul and Beijing: North Korea. The measure was intentionally taken by Washington to pressure Seoul. THAAD has all the characteristics of a Trojan horse. Placed to reassure an ally (Seoul) against a fake-threat (Pyongyang), it becomes a weapon against China, putting in place only a few hundred miles from its border a system that is potentially able to affect China’s strategic nuclear forces. The US military accelerated the deployment of THAAD in the knowledge that this would immediately place the future president in a difficult situation, in that removing THAAD would not be easy in the face of huge American pressure. This may perhaps be Moon’s first challenge: to use the dismantling of THAAD as a means of exchange with Beijing to return to a normal relationship of co-operation. If Beijing wants to believe Moon’s goodwill in eliminating the THAAD system, it may begin to loosen some of the measures imposed on Seoul as retaliation for the deployment of the US system.

Multipolar world to the rescue In this scenario, one must not make the mistake of believing that Moon’s victory means that a major US ally will cease its support for Washington. As always, in this era of transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world, the pressure that Washington will decide to apply to South Korea will affect the nature of the US-ROK alliance. The United States will have to abandon the warlike posture so dear to Mattis, McMaster and Admiral Harris (the commander of the US Pacific Fleet). In this, Tillerson, as a realist, might be the right man at the right place to negotiate with Moon. Potentially, it could be possible to solve the problem in whole by dealing with North Korea, although that seems unlikely given the pressures the deep state will put on the administration to continue using North Korea to create instability in the region.

This is why much of the region’s future will remain subordinated to potential negotiations between Beijing, Pyongyang and Seoul on the Korean peninsula, especially after Moon’s victory. If these three nations succeed in finding common ground on which to set upon a path of reconciliation, the region will benefit greatly.

Of course, in this context, the one most likely to lose influence is the United States. If Washington wants to remain relevant, it should abandon the Chinese containment plan through the Korean peninsula by exploiting North Korean problems. If it instead decides to try to sabotage any peace agreement in the peninsula, this will only push Seoul and Pyongyang even closer together, to Beijing’s great pleasure.

Recent years have seen a mounting showdown between the old world order configuration, based on chaos and destruction and led by Washington, and the new multipolar order that focuses on win-win opportunities, dialogue and sincere cooperation. If Washington decides not to accept the new rules of the game, where it can no longer dictate the law, it will end up producing more damage against itself than any foreign country could actually do; in actual fact, accelerating the formation of the multipolar world and putting to bed the unipolar world order for good.

PAGE SEVEN

People of Rose Hall march in opposition to estate closure

A scence from the protest march on May 16, 2017

On May 16, 2017, in a massive turn out, sugar workers joined by housewives, business persons, students, pensioners took part in a spirited march from the vicinity of Rose Hall Estate to the Sheet Anchor Turn and back to the Estate, a distance of about four (4) miles. This action demonstrated yet again the people’s strong opposition to the plan by the Government and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to close Rose Hall Estate at year-end. The Administration’s plans for sugar have triggered off a spate of protests in the sugar belt

as workers fathom the dire consequences of closure as painfully shown recently with the closure of Wales Estate. An unambiguous message to the powersthat-be is conveyed by the people that they are staunchly opposed to the plans as stated in the Government’s State Paper on Sugar which will imperil their lives and their family’s well-being.

During the march, despite the threatening rain, the protestors carried a number of placards including “Upturn the decision to close Rose Hall Estate”, “We would be sunk into poverty after closure”, “APNU/AFC Govt betray sugar workers”, and “Closure of RH Estate is a political act”. And, as they marched the gathering got bigger and people joined it along the way and it is estimated that it reached over 2,500 persons. The protestors were addressed by, among others, GAWU General Secretary, Seepaul Narine; GAWU Vice President, Harvey Tambron, and three (3) sugar workers. The speakers condemned the plan for the closure which they visualized would bring grave suffering. They encouraged those

Dismissed DTL workers paid severance

present to continue to put up a fight and called on the Administration to listen to the cries of people and abandon their shortsighted plans for sugar. Among the large gathering were Regional Chairman David Armogan and Member of Parliament, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo.

Rose Hall Estate, according to data from GuySuCo, employs some 2,300 workers and assuming a family size of four (4), about 10,000 persons or 1.4 per cent of the country’s population will be directly impacted by the closure decision. Work in the sugar estate is the main avenue of employment, as has been the case for generations now, in that populous rural community. Closure will surely leave a vacuum that will not only gravely impact workers but also force businesses and service providers to curtail or end operations and thus making the bad situation even worse.

The wide participation testifies to the importance the people of Rose Hall attach to the estate and the justifiable concerns they have with the Government’s projections to close at this time. They recognize that the Estate is a major source of sustenance and its demise will be felt deeply and far and wide. The people are rightly fearful that their tranquil communities would be destroyed, families broken up and they will be increased incidences of crime and other social problems. They are urging the Administration to re-look at their plans which will clearly be a Government-made disaster. Certainly, they do not see that this is a path to the so far illusory ‘Good Life’.

First crop ending on a sad note

The dismissed DTL workers picketing the Company on October 03, 2016

Eleven (11) dismissed workers of the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) who were slapped with dismissal letters on October 03, 2016 because they picketed the Company’s Head Office in Georgetown, received severance pay for their service.

DTL’s Personnel/Administrative Manager, Mr R. Trotman in dismissing the workers stated inter alia “I have to and hereby inform you that as a result of the strike action taken by you unlawfully and without print notice to the Company on October 03, 2016, the Company will no longer require your services and is treating your breach as a repudiation of the employment contract, hence your Dismissal.”

The protest arose from the Company’s refusal to engage in collective bargaining with the worker’s Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), to address pay hike claims for years 2015 and 2016. The Company also COMBAT

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disregarded the intervention by the Ministry of Social Protection to conciliate in the matter. Numerous invitations to attend meetings at the Ministry were ignored by the Company yet the Ministry is unable to utilize its authority to compel the Company’s compliance with its requests.

The dismissed workers travelled some 150 miles from Mabura Hill in the Demerara River to draw the public attention that they and their fellow workers were denied wage rise in 2015 and 2016.

GAWU challenged the dismissal of the workers in the High Court. Thereafter, the Company invited the dismissed workers to its Head Office and paid them for their period of service in the Company. The unfortunate workers in order to obtain the severance payments were required to sign discharge undertakings, freeing the Company of any other obligations to them.

A sugar worker manually loading cane punts. This year’s first crop has seen production reaching about 67 per cent of the target.

The first sugar crop is ending on a sad note. The production level is expected to reach about sixty-seven (67) per cent of the 74,172 tonnes sugar target. Something is seriously amiss at the leadership quarter of the country’s major business.

For three (3) consecutive years billions have been provided by the Treasury yet the industry’s cane output is declining although the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) keeps assuring that it is having sufficient canes to realize its set targets.

Why is the production decline so steep?

Is there an agenda to close more than

the two (2) estates after Wales? It is time that we re-examine the credentials of those who conduct the daily operations of the industry. They inherited two (2) favourable crops in 2015 which saw the realization of 231,000 tonnes sugar. Certainly, poor production this year cannot be attributed to a lack of finance noting that the Government approved $32B to the industry between 2015 and 2017.

The taxpayers and the sugar workers are certainly owed a full and detailed explanation from GuySuCo about the expenditure of the funds and the reasons for sugar production falling behind its envisaged targets.

PAGE EIGHT

WE ARE OPPOSED TO CLOSURE AND SELLOUT!

COMBAT

April-May, 2017

PAGE NINE

FITUG Vice President Komal Chand on Labour Day 2017, said:-

“It is incumbent on us all to defend, protect and advance, sure that our tomorrows are better, one where our rights Introduction Once again, we are celebrating this important and significant day of the international working class. Today, millions of workers in over 80 nations are meeting to celebrate their victories, reflect on their challenges, and resolve for a better tomorrow.

In our observances today, we also must recall the sad beginnings of this day. Labour Day has its origins in the fight for an eight (8)-hour work day, which saw a major struggle in 1886 that involved some 80,000 workers in Chicago, USA. Several of the leaders of that struggle were sent to the gallows, scores were arrested and imprisoned: but that heroic struggle inspired the Second International, a Socialist Organisation, to adopt a resolution in 1887 for May 1st to be observed as Internation-

al Workers Day. Since then, many governments have approved May 1st as a National Holiday. In Guyana, the British Guiana Labour Union, under the leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, began the tradition of Labour Day way back in 1930. But it was not until 1958 that it was approved as a National Holiday.

This year’s observances, pleasingly, are again characterized by unity and togetherness. In the recent months, we have seen improved collaboration and co-operation among our bodies. This is indeed a positive development, but at the same time, we of the FITUG recognize that we still have a long road to traverse. Our celebration today, we hold, is another pinnacle along that winding road.

Comrades, the challenges of our times demand our unity. Today, we see hard-won benefits, conditions and rights, won through struggles and sacrifices being under attack and at risk of being rolled back. It is incumbent COMBAT

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on us all to defend, protect and advance our class gains ,and help to build a country that will assure that our tomorrows are better, one where our rights are upheld and our lives are qualitatively enriched.

Local Situation Comrades, Workers Day 2017 greets the Guyanese working people with rising challenges, mounting pressure, and burdens piled on our already overburdened backs. It is disheartening for us of FITUG to record that the promise of a ‘Good Life’ has so quickly been replaced with a depressing state of affairs.

At this time, we must express our concerns over the nation’s economic fortunes and the growing recognition that our economy is in a tailspin. Official statistics indicate that nearly all of our productive sectors are see-

ing declining performance, and that foreign exchange inflows are falling. And in spite of assurances from officialdom, we continue to see a steady devaluation of the Guyana dollar.

In such situations, the working people and their families are the hardest hit victims. They experience now-adays increases, often times steep, in the cost-of-living; there is the shuttering of businesses or the reduction of business activity, which have brought on retrenchments; the obvious dire consequences that will result from reduced national expenditure; the unfortunate decline of workers’ savings and pension funds in real terms, among other things. Clearly, in such trying times, not a ‘Good Life’, but a grim future is ahead.

In these difficult circumstances, we, of FITUG, see the urgent need for the governing authorities to take measures to stop the economic decline; prevent the drop in the people’s living standards, and save workers

‘jobs, stimulate our economy, and put our country back on the track of development. We urge that the Executive rescinds those measures which are pushing many Guyanese into an impoverished state and which are badly hurting the people, especially the poor and working-people of our country.

And, comrade workers and friends, alongside our economic woes, we are also concerned about the shadows hanging over our still fragile democracy. Just a few days ago, the GAWU was denied permission to conduct a public march. Such refusal is tantamount to a denial of our inalienable and constitutional rights, and an affront to Freedom of Expression. Our Federation recalls that the Guyanese working people, among others, played a pivotal role in the restoration of democracy in our society. The strides we made along this path must not be undermined and stalled. Indeed, we need to unitedly raise

our voices when it is jeopardized, even as we advocate for its all-round enhancement. On this score, FITUG reiterates emphatically its commitment to free and fair elections, and urges strongly, at this time, that our nation’s leaders seek to resolve the important GECOM issue early and in an amicable and just manner, which will strengthen our confidence in our cherished democratic norms and institutions.

Brothers and sisters - friends - as workers, we also cannot ignore the crime situation. The violent dimensions and frequency of occurrence have raised uneasiness and anger at every level of society. We of FITUG believe the situation is very serious. We again call on the relevant authorities to regularly review their tactics to contain, reduce, and eventually stamp out this menace from our midst.

On this day, that is long associated with the struggles and victories of the working-people in our country, and PAGE TEN

our class gains and help to build a country that will asare upheld and our lives are qualitatively enriched.” in these times of myriad challenges, we of the FITUG have taken note of the steadily rising protests being displayed by our people. We have seen representative organisations and people movements firmly opposing and denouncing the harsh measures and new pressures that are being piled onto their backs. The mounting protests, which are supported by a wide cross section of Guyanese comprising of the workers, pensioners, farmers, students, business people and others, are a hopeful sign that our leaders will listen to the cries and pleas of our people and abandon the unpopular decisions, justifiably regarded as greater burdens on us. On this day, we of the FITUG hold these struggles as deserving of our full and unstinted solidarity and support.

Sugar Industry

Comrades, for us of FITUG, the sugar industry’s state of health and performance are naturally of great interest to us. We believe the challenges the industry faces are not insurmountable. And, sugar’s success will redound to the benefit of our economy and assure the employment of thousands of Guyanese.

Therefore, it is disheartening for us, in spite of the very good prospects for success and viability, to see the Administration adamantly pressing ahead, notwithstanding the consequences, with its wrong plan to minimize the industry. While various officials of the Executive are telling us that “sugar is too big to fail” and that “sugar will never die”, we see their actions not in sync with their utterances. The sad and disturbing reality at this time is that the Government seems intent on pushing thousands of ordinary, hardworking, decent Guyanese into a life of desperation, and possibly depravity.

The Government’s and GuySuCo’s plans, in our view, COMBAT

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have too many holes and need to be returned to the drawing board. The cutting down of the industry through estate closures and sell-out is not the direction that our country should be pursuing; moreso now given our serious economic troubles.

While pursuit of this course would put thousands of workers on the breadline, there has been no socio-economic analysis to assess the probable impact and to come up with workable alleviation measures. Even the IMF said recently that the Government, in addressing sugar, must be “mindful of the large social impact and provide a safety net to protect those affected by that process”. The fact that this has not been done casts dark shadows on the sincerity of the Administration spokespersons who are claiming that they have the interest of workers and others linked to the industry at heart.

FITUG shares the view that the industry can be turned around, and be made viable and sustainable. We hold that the industry has possibilities for its sustenance and success. We hold that, with the proper elements – the present workforce, a capable management and considered innovative measures – Government support will be required for a period only, as the industry moves to turn around itself.

As workers, we cannot be unaffected by the plight that has befallen many of our colleague workers and their families with the closure of Wales Estate. FITUG asks again how the state-owned GuySuCo, knowing of the grim consequences, can realistically condemn thousands to such misery and hardship. The sugar industry and its workforce have a pivotal place in our country’s economic life. We urge the authorities not to disregard this. We urge them not to continue letting down the working people.

Conclusion Comrades, as we celebrate Labour Day, we are mindful of the arduous path we travelled and the objectives before us. We have many challenges to surmount. Today, bread and butter, security and democracy issues are foremost concerns. As workers, we need to have greater unity and be more assertive in demanding our rights, to expand on our gains and ensure the attainment of our historic goals.

Conditions today call for our active engagement. Let us join with the working peoples of the world to usher in a new day for us and for mankind. We seek a world order which is not threatened by nuclear conflagration, where there is no plunder of a country’s resources, and where the forces that promote wars, destabilization and conflicts in countries and which show disrespect for in-

ternational law and fan and encourage various type of hostilities are effectively neutralized.

Indeed, the world order we envisage is founded on peace, ecological responsibility, social and economic justice, and freedom from oppression and exploitation.

The workers of the world have a big role to play in bringing about this order. In Guyana, we also have a responsibility to strive for a just society, where people, not profits are of primary concern.

At this time comrades, FITUG sends Labour Day greetings to all our workers; indeed, to all Guyanese!

Happy Labour Day 2017 to all!

Long live Labour Day! Long live Proletarian Internationalism!

PAGE ELEVEN

Trying times for the workers of Guyana Continued from page one (1) The economic crisis faced by our country has its origins in the dismal performance of the various economic sectors. The 2017 Budget advised us that nearly all the productive sectors were in decline last year. The effect has been twofold. Firstly, lower production is translated into lesser exports, and thus a reduction in the foreign exchange supply, leading to the crunch we are now faced with. Secondly, poor performance is influencing many enterprises to reduce employment in an effort to maintain profitability. In some instances, some companies have found it wiser to shut down operations, displacing many as a result. The cumulative effect has been significant, as it has engendered reduced consumption and commercial activity, further enlarging the ranks of the unemployed. And already, signs are emerging that unemployed workers are defaulting on their mortgages and loans.

The Government seems not to be able to address the economic difficulties which have gripped the country.

All that seems to be said these days is the prospect of Guyana becoming an oil producing nation; but this is still some way off, and the Guyanese workers and their families need solutions now, and not a seeming ‘panacea’ which is expected with oil and whatever else comes with it. No one knows what oil prices will be when and if production begins, expectedly in three (3) years’ time.

Nor are we aware of what will be in store for Guyanese, except some vague references by Administration spokespersons. It seems that while the grass is growing the horse is starving.

The current trajectory is not hopeful and inspiring.

Quite a few serious-minded persons are of the view that the country is heading back to a situation similar to the late 1980s. At that time, the country was gripped by severe economic difficulties, which were overcome after it bore the consequences of a debilitating structural adjustment programme. Some of the scars have not yet completely been erased. It is high time that the Government engages in policies which promote employment and spur investment and consumption. It is also time to pursue policies to enhance the living standards of Guyana’s working-people and to protect workers’ jobs.

A good start would be to rescind the closure and sell-out in the sugar industry.

Rose Hall workers say “NO TO CLOSURE”

GAWU urges Govt Information Director to become better acquainted with the sugar industry

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to refer to an article appearing in the April 26, 2017 Guyana Chronicle, titled “Sugar, votes and cyclical poverty”, which was authored by the Director of Public Information, Mr Imran Khan.

In his article, the Director called attention to a statement by our Union’s President, Mr Komal Chand, in response to the then planned European Union (EU) sugar price cut. The GAWU President had quite correctly pointed to the obvious dangers that would come to bear should the EU proceed with its then plan. It was generally acknowledged by all those who knew about sugar that the EU cut, or ‘reform’ as it was styled, would present difficulties for the industry. This, as far as we know, was never shied away from or hidden.

Mr Khan also goes on to seemingly put words in the GAWU President’s mouth saying that Mr Chand was aware that the EU changes would make the industry unsustainable. Neither our Union nor Mr Chand ever made such utterances. We find Mr Khan’s assertions baseless and without substance. The industry had recognized challenges that would emerge and had crafted a plan to address the fallout. Mr Khan may also be interested to learn that the industry’s measures were not so surprisingly, fully supported by persons who currently hold high-level posts in the said industry. Now those same individuals tell us those ideas no longer hold water. We find their somersault interesting. Is it a case of he who pays the piper calls the tune?

We also wish to advise Mr Khan that Diamond Estate was closed in 1985, and the LBI factory in 2011. However, it was not until the latter half of 2016 that LBI Estate was closed, when certain operations were merged with their counterparts at Enmore. Until then, the Union was made to understand by GuySuCo officials that the LBI Estate would not be closed. That ‘consolidation’, we understand, was intended to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. Yet, a few weeks after, our Union and the workers learnt, on the last day of 2016, that the Administration was contemplating closing the same estate – Enmore Estate – and putting about 2,300 workers out of work.

Our Union shares the Director’s view: that “Sugar workers’ lives are no story of prosperity and glamour, as some would make it out to be”. Indeed, the workers perform one of the most difficult jobs in the labour market. Yet, in face of the difficult circumstances which sugar workers face, their rates-of-pay were last improved in 2014; they were denied Annual Production Incentive (API)

in 2016 for the first time in over 60 years; and other long-standing conditions, rights and practices are openly disrespected by the state-owned sugar company. It is no wonder that the workers have to “ketch their hand”.

We are disheartened to read Mr Khan saying that large numbers of workers live in an impoverished state. Indeed, this is inaccurate and possibly speaks to Mr Khan’s disconnect from reality. Many sugar workers - through their incomes, which were adjusted over time - have been able to live modest, humble lives. Some have accomplished feats once thought were impossible such as sending their children to university.

We find the Director’s assertion offensive to the hard-working workers. Or, maybe it is a case of Mr Khan having a crystal ball which advised him that workers would “…live in perpetual, punishing, cyclical poverty” should the Administration implement its dastardly plans for the industry.

Mr Khan’s lack of knowledge is further exposed when he says “there was little effort to diversify…”. There were moves in this direction, as evidenced by the Skeldon Co-generation Plant and the Enmore and Blairmont Packaging Plants. Our Union was advised that, in 2016, the operators of the Skeldon Co-Generation plant collected no less than $9.45B from sales. In fact, the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI), for the Director’s information, advised that electricity production has great potential as a revenue earner for GuySuCo. Moreover, packaged sugar, the CoI said, offers the sugar corporation its highest prices.

Also, the ‘junior spin doctor’ may be interested to know that, just a few weeks ago, a Conference to discuss the Jamaican industry concluded that ventures into electricity production, refined white sugar, among other things, offered that industry good possibilities for viability. If Jamaica can do it, what stops Guyana, which has flat arable land, an adequate fresh water supply, inexpensive cane transportation, know-how, sufficient labour, factory capacity, etc from doing the same or even better?

The erstwhile gentleman also points to the level of Government support since the Coalition assumed the reins of power. We wonder: Doesn’t he find it odd, given the large sum provided to GuySuCo, that sugar production this year is estimated at around 198,000 tonnes? In view of the investment, production ought to have been much higher than the 231,000 tonnes production inherited in 2015. Mr Khan may want to ask whether we have the right captain at the helm of GuySuCo. On the debt, we urge the Director to seek a disaggregation of the data, as it would be most enlightening for him.

Mr Khan then goes on to say that “…diversification must be pursued in earnest”. But Wales, which was closed and hundreds pushed into an uncertain life, was to be the launching pad for that diversification that the Director waxes lyrically about but which has seemingly suffered a stillbirth. As far as we are aware, nothing is being done in this direction. All we hear about are plans, studies and examinations which, from the documentation we have seen, have more holes than Swiss cheese.

Mr Director, do get better acquainted and acquire a better understanding of the industry you want to write about.

COMBAT is a publication of the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) 59 High Street & Wights Lane, Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana, S.A. Tel: 592-227-2091/2; 225-5321 , 223-6523 Fax: 592-227-2093 Email: gawu@bbgy.com Website: www.gawu.net