GAWUCombatOctoberDecember2016

Issue#5 Volume#37

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

EDITORIAL

2016 a tragic year for Guyana’s workers As 2016 ends, it is opportune and timely for GAWU to reflect on the grave conditions which now confront the workers of our country. Since mid-2015, practices and traditions, and even laws that were developed over the years and arose out of struggles by the working-class ,were disregarded and ignored.

In the sugar industry, 2016 has been particularly painful for the workers. For the second consecutive year, the 18,000-person workforce has been denied a pay rise.

Added to that injustice, the customary Annual Production Incentive (API) payment was dishonoured, the first time in sixty-four (64) years. Once again, in this year, we feel constrained to record that the sugar workers are clearly being discriminated against. Once more, it must be underlined that they are the only contingent of the state employees who have been denied a pay rise in 2015, and now 2016. GuySuCo and Government’s actions are not helpful to the industry’s turnaround, but rather serve to de-motivate and sap commitment of the hard-working, productive workers. It is rather strange that the respective authority persists on this course when the industry needs to be put on a viable footing, not pushed down further.

Strange, too, is the pattern of GuySuCo management to arbitrarily withdraw many longstanding benefits and practices enjoyed by workers over the years, and which were the consequence of the many struggles of workers. One that must be highlighted is the denial of paidrelease for workers to attend the Union’s 21st Congress last August. The disturbing denial was one that attracted much condemnation by Congress delegates as well as from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). The GAWU holds the view that the denial was a poor and futile attempt to undermine the Union and to disrupt its Congress.

Then there is the expected fiasco at Wales, as the impending closure of the Estate draws closer. Some 1,700 workers will be directly affected and despite the many voices - locally and abroad - that called on the authorities to rescind the callous and heartless decision, as things stand, they are unmoved. The replacement ventures that are being touted have not even begun to take shape to offer a ‘silver lining’ to the dark clouds that hover over Wales. Even a promised interaction between the affected Guyanese and senior Government officials has not occurred. It seems that the people of Wales are insignificant and have all but been forgotten by those who now control the levers of the State.

Continued on page four (4) COMBAT

October - December, 2016

October-December, 2016

Lowest sugar production since 1990 recorded

2017 sugar production target unknown

Cane cutters reaping canes in the fields. In 2016, GuySuCo recorded its lowest sugar production since 1990.

Sugar production for the year (2016) concluded with the culmination of the year’s second crop on week-ending December 24, 2016 with a production of 183,652 tonnes sugar being produced, a deficit of nearly 59,000 tonnes or about 24 per cent below the target of 242,000 tonnes identified in the 2016 National Budget Estate Production Deficit Skeldon 31,721 13,482 Albion 46,765 10,948 Rose Hall 20,974 13,117 Blairmont 33,000 1,449 Enmore 19,354 8,723 Wales 16,808 3,059 Uitvlugt 15,330 1,783 Industry 183,652 52,561

It is the poorest sugar output since 1990 when the production 129,920 tonnes sugar was realized. The disastrous sugar production followed on the heels of the production of 231,000 tonnes sugar recorded last year (2015). The IMC team of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) is obligated to explain to the nation the reason/s for the huge failure.

In the meantime, the Corporation which usually formulates its new year’s production target around September of the previous year ought to reveal the production figures without delay. It is noted that for first time since the nationalization of the industry, forty (40) years ago, that sugar production was not included in the 2017 National Budget.

PAGE ONE

Prime Minister on a mission to denigrate GAWU Prime Mini s t e r .

G A W U deems the Prime Minister’s utterances in the National Ass embly, as reported in the media to be deceitful.

It is recalled, that on August 29, 2016, Justice Brassington Reynolds ordered Wales workers picketing the Parliament on January 21, 2016 denouncing the decision to close the Estate the Guyana Sugar Demerara Waves, on December 09, Union. In an August 02, 2016 press reCorporation Inc (GuySuCo) to engage 2016, reported that Prime Minister, Mo- lease, GAWU indicated that it had relithe GAWU and the National Association ses Nagamootoo, in his contribution to able information that the Prime Ministhe 2017 Budget debate, said, “…the sugar ter, during a meeting with some of the of Agricultural, Commercial and Indusworkers’ union then sought to block Guy- severed Wales workers on July 27, 2016, trial Employees (NAACIE). That order suco from paying that severance, a move had sought to influence them to prepare ensured that Section 12(3)(b) of the Terwhich was rescinded after the sugar work- a petition calling on the Union to with- mination of Employment and Severance ers petitioned their union, and were paid draw its injunction. During that meeting, Pay Act (TESPA) was respected. The some $80M in severance from the sugar the Union understands also, the workers relevant section requires an employer to corporation”. The PM is also reported in were urged to organize their colleagues to consult the recognized Union in event of the December 11, 2016 Guyana Chroni- picket the Union. Our release went on to the possibility of redundancy. GuySuCo, cle as saying:- “…the union and the PPP of say: “Also, a circulating view is that the 11 not wanting to engage the Union on this using workers as voting machines who pay workers who met with the Ministers [the matter previously, was at last compelled ‘union dues to the labour bureaucrats’…”. Prime Minister and the Minister of Agri- to engage the GAWU. Our Union and With respect to the ‘petition’ referred culture] have received an inducement for NAACIE then withdrew the injunction after it had served its purpose. to by the Prime Minister, this is in the their [intended] picketing assignment”.

GAWU, also, was always supportive Guyana Agricultural and General WorkNo worker ever picketed GAWU’s Ofers Union’s (GAWU) estimation, is but fice, nor was any petition ever seen by the of the workers receiving their severanother ploy seeking to undermine the Union, to the dismay, no doubt, of the ance payments, and never - at any time - sought to stand in their way. On March

24, 2016, one hundred and two (102) workers received a month’s redundancy notice from the Corporation. It followed that the workers should have received their redundancy payments not later than the last week of April, 2016. That payment, it is recalled, was not honoured until October 14, 2016. From April 23, 2016, the workers were not in the Estate’s employ, therefore union dues could not have been paid by them. Here, the PM’s statement which was reckless, irresponsible and grossly inaccurate, is exposed.

The GAWU wishes to underline that the sole purpose of the injunction by the Unions was to ensure that the rights of the remaining Wales workers - some 1,600, who would be severed after the Estate’s closure - were not disregarded.

In fact, with effect from December 14, 2016, GuySuCo, in keeping with the Court’s ruling and TESPA, began to engage GAWU at Wales Estate location in interviewing each worker with respect to their severance pay.

Previous attempts to discredit our Union have not succeeded. The latest attempt, as reported, will not succeed either. The PM is continuing along a track that will bring him greater condemnation from workers, especially those in the sugar industry. PM, Cde Naga, must know that sugar workers’ rights have been trampled upon by an Administration he plays a major role in and, then again, Cde Naga may have forgotten the time when he claimed to be GAWU’s corner, that is before he was given the mantle of PM. Needless to say, GAWU shall always stand steadfastly by the workers in these growingly difficult and hard times.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, at the post-Cabinet press briefing on November 17, 2016, is reported in a Government Information Agency (GINA) release to have said inter alia:“…administrative staff of the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara would have to wait a bit longer, as government continues to identify alternative estates for their placement”. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) finds the Minister’s announcement startling and revealing, and at odds with previous pronouncements by the Government.

Government has adopted such a flippant approach to this issue which threatens the livelihoods of thousands of ordinary Guyanese.

GAWU detects increasing political interference in the sugar industry

Our Union recalls that the Government last year advised that the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) would operate independently, and its administration would be confined to the Board and Management. In fact, the Corporation’s Chairman, Professor Clive Thomas, in COMBAT

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the November 01, 2015 Kaieteur News, of the motivations behind the seeming said:- “GuySuCo’s recent success is also change. We also wonder what other deproof that political incisions regarding the terference was a severe industry are being adtoxic element in the indressed at the Camp dustry and to the CorAyanganna meetings. poration. That is done with.” In view of the The Minister, in the “toxic” repercussions same release, also was that political interferquoted as saying “… ence brings, it was inthe question becomes deed surprising that now, what to do with fairly straightforward lands, so government is administrative decilooking at several opsions concerning the tions”. This revelation, Corporation have atthough significant and tracted, and are attractdepressing, confirms ing, Cabinet’s attention. our Union’s suspicion This represents a major that there was, and still Minister Raphael Trotman shift in Government’s is, no clear roadmap attitude to the sugar regarding the future of industry. It would be interesting to learn Wales Estate. It is incredulous that the

The apparent heightening of political interference within the industry in recent weeks and months is obviously of concern to our Union and the thousands of sugar workers. If simplistic and straightforward decisions are being considered at the highest levels of Government, then we can very well be on a perilous path in which political considerations could very well take precedence over other important considerations vital to the industry’s success. We urge our decision-makers to carefully consider the path they have embarked on, and the serious repercussions they can have on morale and the proper functioning of the all-important sugar industry.

PAGE TWO

FITUG says:-

2017 Budget adds further burdens to an already stricken populace

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guy- a severe disadvantage, and will certainly worsen the al- We recall that the Minister, in his inaugural Budget adana (FITUG), having examined the 2017 Budget, has ready bad social conditions in the country. dress in 2015, speaking to youth unemployment, then come to the conclusion that the Government has fallen estimated at about 40 per cent by the Caribbean Develwoefully short of its promise of “Delivering the Good opment Bank (CDB), pointed out that unemployment Life to All Guyanese”. Several provisions in the Budget was fuelling “crime and drugs; poverty; and reduced life will only serve to engender even greater hardships on expectancy”. With this in mind, we are most perturbed our already overburdened working-class; indeed, all - given the large numbers who have since swelled the working people: the imposition of VAT on electricranks of the unemployed - that very little, if not scant, ity and water; the reduction in the number of VAT attention has been paid to such a crucial issue, espeexempted and zero-rated items which will affected cially given the severe consequences that the Minister medical supplies and services and treatments, among drew attention to in his earlier address. others; the introduction of an environmental tax; the Moreover, the Federation was also dismayed to learn increases in the costs of passports; the introduction of that the Budget did not address, in a positive way, the fees for TIN certificates; the massive increases in the plight of the sugar workers. For two (2) years now, thoucosts for a number of licences, fees and penalties; the sands of workers and their families are being forced to increase in the departure tax, as well as other increascontend with no pay increases. That aside, the workers es are some of the new pressures that the 2017 Budget are faced with other assaults on their rights and benhas brought on to be borne by the workers, pensionefits. In the face of such denials, it is damning that large ers, and other ordinary Guyanese come January, 2017. sums are being found to fund super-salaried GovernThe latest burdens to be added come just a few ment officials and the top echelons of the sugar indusmonths after the Government increased about one try; and, possibly soon, a former high office holder. hundred and forty (140) taxes, some as high as 1,200 Budget 2017 with its draconian measures can be per cent. Worst yet is that more are still to come, rightly seen as an anti-working class Budget. It will fursuch as the introduction of parking meters and the ther undo many of the positive gains made in the past rumoured increases of rates and taxes, land lease fees The 2017 National Budget has increased a number of taxes and years, and serve to push many ordinary Guyanese into Government fees and licences. Also, taxes will now be applied on and the Demerara Harbour Bridge tolls. The Budgetan impoverished state. The FITUG urges the Granger a number of previously tax-exempted items. These taken together ary “cushions” through the marginal reduction of VAT will further burden the Guyanese working-people Administration to re-look, with a view to rescind, the or the income tax adjustments, or the paltry pension many measures which will be severe blows on and badincrease will more than be consumed by the already ly hurt the people, especially the poor and workingapproved and now proposed changes, most of which FITUG also found the Budget to be sorely lacking. people of our country. have been, and again will be, passed on to the consumer. There are hardly any specific details or policies to adIn short, Budget 2017 puts the masses of Guyanese at dress the current and rising unemployment situation.

GAWU in solidarity with dismissed shop steward case is yet another of GuySuCo’s anti-workers thrust Sugar worker Dharamdeo Brijwala, a shop steward and an employee attached to Blairmont Estate, was summarily dismissed by letter of August 05, 2016, which was signed by the Estate’s Human Resources Manager.

Brijwala, aged forty (40) years, cut and fetched canes for Cde Dharamdeo Brijwala nearly twenty-five (25) years, one of the toughest tasks in the sugar industry.

On June 14, 2016, there was an altercation between Brijwala and another worker, Nizam Ally, while they were in a transportation lorry. The Corporation contended COMBAT

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that Brijwala assaulted Ally during that altercation. On the other hand, Ally in a statement, admitted that he broadsided Brijwala with his cutlass. Also, Ally requested to have the matter amicably settled. Nonetheless, Brijwala was dismissed from the employ of the Estate.

Representation to GuySuCo at the central level by the Union failed to persuade the Corporation to reverse its decision to dismiss Brijwala. The next stage of the grievance procedure, conciliation, was invoked by the Union.

At conciliation, the presiding conciliator, Charles Ogle – Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer (CLOSH) – following the presentations by the Union and the Corporation on September 30, 2016, recommended that the Corporation review its decision.

GuySuCo subsequently reported to the CLOSH and the Union that it would not alter its decision. Thus the CLOSH summoned a meeting on December 02, 2016 and declared the dispute deadlocked. Mr Ogle, in concluding the matter at his level, advised that the parties seek to have the matter adjudicated by an arbitrator.

The Union, in the circumstances, sought to obtain the

approval of the Corporation to follow the course of action proffered by the Ministry of Social Protection.

Unfortunately, GuySuCo, by letter dated December 06, 2016, refused to have the dispute considered at arbitration.

The Union is of the strong view that Brijwala was discriminated against by the Corporation. GAWU took into account that the incident, which occurred since June 14, 2016, did not result in summary dismissal until August 05, 2016. Moreover, the Corporation’s dismissal decision was significantly influenced by Brijwala’s firmly holding that a price dispute on August 04, 2016 involving workers of his gang be settled with certain level of payment. This view by the Union has been strengthened

by GuySuCo’s negative stance on arbitration.

Workers of the industry have, in recent months, been invariably pummelled by certain managerial staff. And Brijwalla’s case is yet another of GuySuCo’s anti-workers ‘thrust.

GAWU will certainly pursue this case; and, needless to say, is in full support of the former shop steward and dismissed worker Dharamdeo Brijwalla.

PAGE THREE

Sugar unions urge Government to reconsider Wales decision closure a clearly ill-considered and unwise decision

Our Unions – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU); the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE); and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) – noting that the indicated closure of the renowned Wales Estate by the Coalition Government is nearing, considers it incumbent on us to once more warn against that clearly ill-considered and unwise decision.

Our Unions, the workers and many Guyanese, among others, have strongly decried this decision, imposed in January, 2016 by the APNU/AFC Government without consultation with us (the Unions) and the workers who will be gravely affected. It is widely felt, with justification, that the closure would have disastrous effects on the workers and their families, cane farmers, the communities of the West Bank of Demerara, and naturally, the economy of the country.

It is indeed regrettable that the Government and its Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) are not listening to the anxious cries of many of our citizens to rescind the infamous decision. To compound the callousness of the decisionmakers, it must be noted that they have not even bothered to pursue any known study to ascertain the likely impact and to consider alleviation measures, although some ten (10) months have elapsed since the decision was leaked in the Guyana Times.

So far, just about ninety (90) workers got their redundancy payments last September after an unnecessary delay. The remaining workers are, at this time, apprehensive about their fate. As the closure time draws closer, the workers have no intimation when the Corporation’s hierarchy will approve their redundancy payments. It is so sad that some 1,600 of COMBAT

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the State’s employees, taking into account those who have already received their redundancy pay, are being treated so shabbily even as they face the grim prospect of being forced into the swelling ranks of the unemployed.

It is opportune to enquire, too, about the future of the 2,500 hectares of cane lands and the soon-to-be redundant sugar factory. Concern must be raised also about the farmers’ cane cultivation on their hundreds of hectares of expensively prepared land, and the obvious hardships that lies ahead. So far, we hear that Wales would be the starting point for the Corporation’s non-sugar ventures. The nation will recall that similar ventures in the past were met with negative results. It should be again noted that there has been no published study by the Government or GuySuCo about the potential of the announced ventures which may be contemplated by the Government.

On this score, we wish to also draw attention to the Economic and Finance Report of the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI) authored by current Chairman of GuySuCo, Professor Clive Thomas, who explicitly recommended that the other crops be first pursued outside of GuySuCo lands. Moreover, the Agricultural Report of the CoI pointed out that the cultivation of other crops will not be able to absorb the displaced labour from the scaling down of cane growing.

The Government and GuySuCo, in announcing the closure of Wales Estate, had committed that by October 01, 2016, at least one venture would have been established. That, notwithstanding, we are still being told about plans and studies.

The latest venture coming to our attention is that a trial for seed paddy would be pursued on a portion of the cane culti-

vation, and thereafter, a decision would be made on full-fledged production. We find GuySuCo’s entry into the rice industry very perplexing, given the current situation prevailing in the rice sector.

Here we wish to point to the Ministry of Finance’s mid-year Economic Report 2016 which advised that rice production for the first half of 2016, fell by 26.2 per cent when compared with the first half of 2015. Government and GuySuCo spokespersons have also spoken about ventures into aquaculture, cattle rearing and orchard fruits. These initiatives, it is said, are still being studied, so it seems that implementation, if at all, will be sometime from now.

densome for the workers, apart from the question of the absorptive capacity of Uitvlugt.

Indeed, the seeming scant attention paid to this major issue is cause for concern and worry. Many Wales workers are unsure of their future employment at this time. GuySuCo is seeking the co-operation of many workers to accept transfers to Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away.

The unreasonable additional travelling time, among other factors, will be bur-

We, the Unions operating in the industry, again strongly urge the Government and GuySuCo that it is not too late to reconsider the closure of Wales Estate decision, and thus avoid the harsh repercussions the closure will have on hundreds and hundreds of workers and their families; on numerous farmers, and on small vendors, apart from other effects.

During an interaction, a few weeks ago, between the Wales Estate management and some of the Union’s shop stewards of the estate, a senior GuySuCo official was reported to have said that the future of Uitvlugt Estate would be reviewed in the future. This raises the question of the plans being contemplated for Uitvlugt in the near or medium term. This is indeed surprising and of concern, especially since we are told that efforts are being made to safeguard sugar production at Uitvlugt.

2016 a tragic year for Guyana’s workers Continued from page one (1)

deemed fit.

At Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL), the GAWU is waging another battle for eleven (11) workers who were dismissed.

The workers received marching orders after they took part in a picketing exercise outside of the Company’s office on October 03, 2016. The eleven (11) workers were pressing that DTL engage their Union on a pay rise for 2015, after which the hatchet fell. DTL’s decision flies in the face of conventions, and our national legislation, and thus it is ominous that, in view of such clear violations, the workers have not been reinstated although the Ministry of Social Protection has become involved too. The matter is now being followed up through the judicial system, as GAWU seeks to correct the grave wrong that has been done.

Looking ahead to 2017, not much hope for Trade Unionism or workers is appearing on the horizon. For sugar workers, hanging over their heads like the Sword of Damocles are the threats of further estate’s closure and/or privatisation. For the workers of Guyana, the recently presented 2017 Budget offers very little comfort while exposing the Government’s promise of a ‘Good Life’ to be nothing but an imagination of someone or some group.

New taxes on previously exempted items such, as water, electricity, medical supplies and services and education, will add to the already heavy burdens that are borne by the workers, pensioners and all needy, poor, and generally the working people of Guyana.

2016 also saw, once more, the re-imposition of pay rises in the public sector.

While there was a pretense of Collective Bargaining, no agreement was reached between the workers Union and the Government. In the end, the Government unilaterally imposed its will and gave the hard-pressed workers what it had decided it wanted to give. Here the longstanding resolution mechanism was thrown away, and the authorities decided as they

The obtaining situation calls more and more for unity among the various segments of our workers, and indeed, of all Guyanese - to take common activities against the measures that drive us into deeper impoverishment and suffering.

There is certainly a growing role today for organized labour, business community, miners, farmers, youth, and women to act to halt the rapid decline of our economy and society.

PAGE FOUR

Grounds being fertilized to sell Skeldon Alternative and worthy proposals and ideas expressed by the Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Trade Unions, and other credible voices are simply shunned of this big sum.

The media reported, interestingly, that GuySuCo has already begun talks with prospective buyer/s. Is it a case that there are buyers, or is there just one buyer?

It is also puzzling that the Skeldon factory, now described as a “ticking time bomb” and requiring an astounding sum to be put right, is yet attracting interested purchaser/s so eager to talk.

Maybe there is more in the mortar than the pestle can pound.

Transparency is certainly lacking ,even in this case involving the newest and costliest sugar factory.

From our perspective, the ground is being fertilized to make a case for the sale of Skeldon, at quite possibly a giveaway price and the workers and the public are not being adequately informed by Chief Executive OfThe sale of the Skeldon sugar factory is being contemplated by Government and GuySuCo. It is rumoured that a purchaser has been identified, and ficer Errol Hanoman and/or the a Memorandum of Understanding has already been inked with a Trinidadian company to pursue a study at the Estate relevant government official(s).

GAWU does not support the diSugar workers, and no doubt, an alert public, must Kaieteur News that:- “I am pleased with the way the Skelvestment of the Skeldon factory have been taken aback and been surprised to learn, don factory seems to be improving. And I know that it can and its rich and arable land – a part of our patrimony. Infrom media reports, that the Guyana Sugar Corpora- do more. But this is a good sign for the industry”. deed, such an approach, we believe, must entail knowltion Inc (GuySuCo) and the Government are preparing edgeable and responsible evaluators; consultations with the ground for the imminent sale of Skeldon Estate. The The Government and GuySuCo’s consideration is most the workers and their Unions; and indeed, discussions pattern we have been witnessing over the last year or so perplexing and disconcerting. The Corporation’s 2015 involving the relevant agencies of the country. regarding the sugar industry is clearly continuing. The Annual Report, at page 12, said “Skeldon’s sugar producauthorities seem bent on doing things and considering tion of 39,158 tonnes surpassed 2014’s actual and is now It is apposite to remind ourselves that the Skeldon facmeasures that are certainly not suitable for the well-be- the highest production since the new factory was commis- tory and agricultural expansion were conceptualized ing of the industry, the workers and the country. Alter- sioned in 2009. The factory performance has improved and designed to safeguard the entire sugar industry’s vinative and worthy proposals and ideas expressed by the considerably (15% improvement in the sugar recoveries).” ability and sustainability. This concept holds good today.

Sugar Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Trade Unions, and Moreover, from a letter which appeared in the Novem- An important element to Skeldon’s success relates to the other credible voices are simply shunned. ber 15, 2016 Guyana Times by Fredrick Yuvraj, it was return of the Co-Generation Plant and the adoption of interesting to note that the mentioned ‘issues’ at Skeldon an appropriate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), as From news reports, we understand that the Corpora- are usual for all factories, and they simply require ad- was recommended by the CoI and sent to be approved tion’s Board is advancing the sale, among other “options” equate and timely maintenance. With this in mind, and by the Government. But no action has been taken to rein addressing the sugar industry’s future. The Guyana with the prospect of ‘sale’ being floated, it is tempting to turn this important asset to GuySuCo for the past eighAgricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) ask whether proper maintenance is not done; or if there teen (18) months; and this is yet another puzzling factor. wishes to point out that its representative on the Board is a considered attempt to present the factory’s declining Will the prized Cogeneration units be part of the “gift” is not aware of such a proposal being raised at recent performance to justify its sale; or possibly, its sale at a to the intended owner? meetings. Neither has he been requested to express his highly reduced price for the intended buyer. view on these “options”. Apparently, the Board’s name We see that the move to place the Skeldon factory on is being used to give the illustration that consultation According to the November 13, 2016 Stabroek News, the chopping block will have negative repercussions for is taking place and a democratic procedure is being fol- Wartsila conducted an evaluation of the factory, which the industry and the country as a whole. For the worklowed. It also raises the question whether other Board would have led to the comments now being made. It is ers, the communities, the cane farmers and others who members are aware of what is being proposed in their bewildering as to why GuySuCo would engage Wartsila, are directly and indirectly linked to Skeldon Estate, such name. Most certainly, the workers of Skeldon and their especially since its known area is power generation, and decision will certainly place their employment and welUnions are left in the dark. we are unware of any track record of its credible knowl- fare at grave risk. At this time, we emphasize our strong edge with respect to sugar factories; and thus its conclu- disagreement with the position mooted, and strongly Statements that Skeldon estate is in a “deplorable” state sion is open to be questioned . The public is now being urge the Government and GuySuCo to desist from such are baseless and come out of nowhere. Moreover, we find told that as much as $12B are required to bring the estate a course and instead to heed the credible and sincere them to be at odds with earlier statements. We recall the “up to speed”. Clearly this is an astronomically overstated views of the many Guyanese who have grave difficulties Chairman of the Board saying in the November 01, 2015 sum. It would be interesting to learn of the breakdown to support the selling out of the Estate.

COMBAT

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PAGE FIVE

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

The 10 victories of President Maduro in 2016

Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro

By Ignacio Ramonet In early 2016,Venezuela’s authorities had very difficult problems to solve. Namely, 1) the neoliberal opposition had won the legislative elections of 2015 and controlled the National Assembly, 2) the price of oil, the main export of Venezuela, had fallen to its lowest point in decades, and 3) US President Barack Obama had signed an executive order that declared Venezuela to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the US national security and foreign policy”.

That is, in three decisive areas (political, economic and geopolitical), the Bolivarian revolution seemed to be playing defensively. Meanwhile, the counter-revolution, both internal and external, seemed to have power at its fingertips.

This permanent aggression by the media created and propagated such a level of disinformation about Venezuela that it even confused many friends of the Bolivarian Revolution.

As I was saying, all odds seemed to be against the President of Venezuela in early 2016. The head of the National Assembly, opposition member Henry Ramos Allup, even dared to say, emboldened by the parliamentary majority they had achieved, that he would oust Maduro “in less than six months”. He was undoubtedly inspired by the institutional coup that had ousted President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil, and hoped to achieve a victory in a recall referendum.

That was the state of affairs when President Maduro, in a masterful series of moves that nobody had predicted —and that were perfectly legal, according to the Constitution— surprised everyone. He renewed the members of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ), whose Constitutional Court has the last word when it comes to interpreting the Constitution.

And then the opposition made two huge mistakes: They decided to ignore the warnings of the SCJ and carry out a session with three deputies from Amazonas state, whose appointment was under cautionary suspension due to irregularities in their election. Of course, the SCJ blocked this act of disobedience and declared the National Assembly to be in contempt due to the presence of three “irregularly elected” deputies, and therefore stripped all validity from decisions made by the organism until this situation is solved. So not only did the assembly fail to legislate to control the government, but it annulled itself, wasting the power it held. That was Maduro’s first victory in 2016.

In their obsessive effort to overthrow the President, the anti-Chavista opposition also decided to ignore the legal COMBAT

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requirements to launch a revocatory referendum in 2016. And therefore they failed again; and that was Maduro’s second victory.

Even so, there was a phase, in March and April, when everything got terribly complicated.

Because the usual attacks by the enemies of the Bolivarian revolution were joined by another destabilizing factor: a huge drought, the second biggest since 1950, and extreme heat caused by El Niño.

In Venezuela, 70% of electricity is generated by hydroelectric plants, and the main hydroelectric central comes from the Guri dam. When the amount of rain decreased, the water levels of this dam dropped to next to minimum.

The counter-revolution sought to take advantage of this situation and sabotage electricity to enrage the people and create chaos and protests. This was even more dangerous, because the lack of rain also caused drinking water shortages.

But, once again, President Maduro acted swiftly and took dramatic measures: he decreed that millions of incandescent light bulbs had to be replaced by energy saving light bulbs; that old air conditioning systems had to be replaced by new, energy saving ones; he ordered public administration to work half time, and he decreed a special plan of national savings of electricity and water consumption.

Thanks to these bold measures, the president managed to avoid energetic collapse, and obtained one of his most popular victories in 2016.

Another important problem, probably the biggest that the government had to face, partly caused by the economic war on the revolution, was the shortage in food distribution. Before Chávez became president in 1999, 65% of Venezuelans were poor and only 35% had a high quality of life. That means that only 3 out of 10 Venezuelans regularly counsumed meat, chicken, coffee, corn, milk, sugar and other basic goods. But Chávez wanted everyone to be properly nourished, and in the last 17 years, food consumption grew by 80%. This required a massive investment to increase national food production, but it didn’t grow enough to satisfy the growing demand.

Demand grew, and so did speculation. And due to the structural limitations to produce enough, prices hiked vertiginously, while the black market, or bachaqueo, expanded. The government set ceilings on prices of essential goods. Many people bought those cheap, government-subsidized products, and sold them for higher prices, or smuggled them across the border to Colombia or Brazil, where they sold them for double or triple the price. Therefore, Venezuela lost its dollar reserves (which were already scarce due to the drop in oil prices) to the bloodsuckers that stole basic goods from those in need to get rich. Such madness had to stop.

Once again, Maduro decided to act with a firm hand.

First of all, he changed the philosophy of social welfare. and he corrected a very important mistake that Venezuela had been making for years. Instead of subsidizing products, the government had to subsidize people. So that those who were truly in need had access to cheaper products. Everybody else pays the market price. This

eliminated speculation and smuggling.

And he also announced a change in the economic model of the country: from a “rentist model” to a “productive model”, and defined 15 key sectors to restart the economy of the private, public and communal sectors.

One of the practical implementations of these two measures is the creation of Local Committees of Supply and Production (CLAPs), a new form of popular organization. The representatives of organized communities deliver bags full of low-cost food to each home. Many of these foods are produced by the new national industry.

In the upcoming months,, CLAPs should feed around four million families.

Another victory was the government’s record in social expenditure: 71,4% of the budget was allocated there.

That’s a world record. No other state in the world dedicates that much resources to the wellbeing of its people.

In healthcare, for example, the number of hospitals grew 3.5 times since 1999 and investment in the new model of humanitarian, free-for-all healthcare grew ten times.

The Barrio Adentro Mission, aimed at caring for the health of those who live in the poorest urban areas of the country, has received almost 800 million visits, and saved 1,400,000 lives. Free medical universities have trained 27,000 new doctors, and other 30,000 will graduate in 2017. Eight states have achieved a 100% coverage with the Barrio Adentro Mission (the goal had been set at six). In 2016, the percentage of retired people who earn a pension (regardless of whether they were able to pay for retirement deductions during their active years) reached 90%—a new record for South America.

Spectacular results were achieved by the Housing Mission, which builds accessible homes for disadvantaged families. In 2016 alone, this Mission delivered 359,000 homes for the humble. (While a developed country like France made 109,000 in 2015). Since the beginning of his administration in 2013, one and a half million houses have been made for Venezuelan families. This achievement isn’t even mentioned by hegemonic media.

Last, but not least, we must recall some of the brilliant victories that Venezuela obtained in the geopolitical arena. For example, it prevented the Organization of American States, which is dominated by Washington, from condemning Caracas by invoking the Democratic Charter against Venezuela.

It also reaped success at the XVII Summit of the Non Aligned Movement, held in September 2016 in the country, with the attendance of many heads of state and government representatives from 120 countries, who expressed their solidarity with Venezuela.

The main victory of President Maduro in this area was the unprecedented deal between OPEC and non-OPEC countries to coordinate a reduction in exports of oil. To achieve this, Maduro carried out many international tours.

This historic agreement, signed in November 2016, immediately stopped the drop in oil prices - which had been plummeting since mid-2014, when the price was at 100 dollars a barrel - to 24 dollars in January. Thanks to the agreement, the price hiked to 45 dollars by the end of December 2016.

In the longest and hardest year, in which many thought he would fall, President Maduro overcame all obstacles and proved his exceptional ability as a statesman and as a trustworthy leader of the Bolivarian revolution.

PAGE SIX

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

Obama's legacy of war, repression and inequality

Barack Obama

By Joseph Kishore US President Barack Obama’s “farewell address to the nation,” was preceded by a concentrated media buildup on the theme of Obama’s legacy. This has included fawning tributes portraying the president as a brilliant orator, progressive reformer, visionary, and man of the people.

Seeking to mold the narrative of Obama’s presidency, the White House put out a video over the weekend featuring comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Jerry Seinfeld, actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, former basketball star Michael Jordan and other celebrities, extolling the “historic moments that prove, yes, we can create progress.” Such absurd and nauseating effusions testify not to the qualities or accomplishments of the 44th president, but to the intellectual, political and moral debasement of the American cultural establishment.

For Obama and the privileged social layers that surround the Democratic Party, a legacy can be crafted with honeyed phrases and clever marketing. Millions of people, however, will judge the administration by its actions.

It would take far more space than is available here to outline in detail the real record of the Obama White House. However, any objective appraisal of the past eight years would have to include the following elements: Obama is the first president in American history to serve two full terms in office with the nation at war. This includes the continued bloodletting in Afghanistan and Iraq, the bombing of Libya, the six-year-long war for regime change in Syria, and support for the Saudi-led destruction of Yemen. A recent survey reported that, in 2016, US Special Operations forces were deployed in 138 nations, or 70 percent of the countries of the world.

The “wars of the 21st century,” begun under Bush and expanded under Obama, have killed more than a million people and driven millions more from their homes, producing the worst refugee disaster since the Second World War. Obama’s “pivot to Asia” has inflamed tensions from the South China Sea to India and Pakistan.

The current president will leave the White House as NATO troops deploy to Eastern Europe in the midst of an anti-Russia war hysteria stoked by the media and the Democratic Party.

Obama is the “drone” president, supervising the killing of some 3,000 people in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Libya by means of unmanned aerial vehicles, along with several thousand more in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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At least three of the individuals killed in drone strikes were US citizens. The declaration of the Obama Administration in 2011 that the president has the authority to assassinate anyone, including US citizens, without due process, sums up the attitude of the former constitutional law professor to basic democratic precepts.

The US detention and torture center in Guantanamo Bay, which Obama pledged on his inauguration day to close, remains open. Chelsea Manning, who courageously exposed war crimes in Iraq, is serving a 35-year prison sentence at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Obama White House has prosecuted more whistleblowers for espionage than all previous administrations combined. Edward Snowden was forced into exile in Russia under threat of prosecution or worse, while WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remains trapped in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

The massive spying programs of the National Security Agency exposed by Snowden remain in place, and not a single individual has been prosecuted for clearly illegal and unconstitutional activity. Proclaiming the need to “look forward, not backwards,” Obama gave a free pass to Bush Administration officials who institutionalized torture, with some of them, including current CIA Director John Brennan, finding top posts in Obama’s administration.

Obama has expanded the militarization of police departments and intervened in court to uphold police abuses that violate the Constitution.

Obama came into office in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis, and the focus of his administration has been to restore the wealth of the financial aristocracy. Since their low point in March of 2009 (two months after Inauguration Day), stock values—fueled by the “quantitative easing” policies of the US Federal Reserve—have more than tripled, with the top one percent being the overwhelming beneficiary of this new orgy of speculation. Aggregate quarterly corporate profits rose from $671 billion at the end of 2008 to $1.636 trillion in 2016, and the wealth of the richest 400 Americans increased from $1.57 trillion to $2.4 trillion.

At the other pole, eight years of the Obama Administration have produced declining wages, rising living costs and growing indebtedness. Nearly 95 percent of all jobs added during the Obama Administration’s “recovery” have been temporary or part-time positions, according to a recent study by Harvard and Princeton, with the share of workers in temporary jobs rising from 10.7 percent to 15.8 percent. Obama presided over the bankruptcy of the auto companies early in his administration (imposing an across-the-board 50 percent cut in wages for new-hires). He supported the bankruptcy of Detroit and slashing of city workers’ pensions. In the name of education “reform,” he oversaw a wave of public school closures, and attacks on teachers who were laid off in the hundreds of thousands.

As for Obama’s principal domestic initiative, the Affordable Care Act, its intended and actual outcome has been the shifting of health care costs from corporations and the state to individuals, with corporations slashing coverage and workers forced to pay exorbitant prices for substandard care. One statistic sums up the consequences: For the first time since the height of the AIDS

epidemic in 1993, life expectancy fell in the US between 2014 and 2015 due to rising adult mortality from drug overdoses, suicides and other manifestations of social distress.

No account of the legacy of Obama would be complete without noting two additional statistics. Since 2009, approximately 10,000 people have been killed by police in the United States, while the Obama Administration has deported about three million immigrants, more than any other US administration in history.

Then there is the man himself. What is most striking is Obama’s emptiness. From his first major speech, at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the media has hailed Obama as a great orator. Yet, over the span of 12 years in political office at the federal level, including eight in the White House, Obama leaves behind not a single sentence from a speech or interview that will be remembered.

Everything about Obama, who came into office having been named “Marketer of the Year,” is false and contrived. The only thing he consistently conveys is indifference, a strange remoteness, a man without qualities.

The personality is related to the function. More than anything else, Obama has been the president of the intelligence agencies. His political convictions appear to extend no further than his CIA briefing books. To those who care to look more closely into the background, there always seemed to be hands guiding his way to the White House.

For the ruling class, Obama’s particular function was to fuse, in his person and his administration, identity politics with the absolute domination of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus. The “change” Obama was to represent was in the colour of his skin, not the content of his policies.

The nominally liberal and pseudo-left organizations of the upper-middle class that surround the Democratic Party hailed his election as a “transformative” event, seizing upon the elevation of an African-American as an opportunity to abandon their oppositional pretenses.

However, his tenure has merely demonstrated that it is class, not race, that is the decisive social category.

Amidst all the commentary on Obama’s “progressive” legacy, no one seems capable of explaining why it is that eight years of the Obama White House paved the way for the election of Donald Trump. Yet, the bitter realities of social life, the widespread anger and disappointment, led to a collapse of the Democratic Party vote amidst a general feeling of disillusionment with the entire political establishment.

Obama now bequeaths to the world a ferocious conflict between two right-wing factions of the ruling class: The Trump Administration, which is preparing an authoritarian and militarist government of the oligarchy; and its critics, furious that he is reluctant, for the present, to proceed with their preparations to wage war against Russia.

The record of the Obama Administration and the character of the individual himself speak, in the end, to the structure of American politics—an ossified and reactionary political establishment that lacks any broad base of support, standing atop a cauldron of seething social tensions. The true legacy of Obama is the deepening of the crisis of American capitalism and the emergence of a new period of social and revolutionary struggles.

PAGE SEVEN

GAWU expresses condolences to Cuban Government and people on the passing of Cde Fidel Castro apartheid and imperialism. Undoubtedly, he is one of the greatest revolutionaries of the twentieth century, and partly of the twenty-first century.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins the millions the world over in paying homage to Commandante Fidel Castro, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba, a sister Caribbean country we emphasize our sincere and deepest respect. Cde Fidel, as we familiarly and lovingly referred to him, who influenced positively the struggles of the oppressed and deprived and the poor of the world,

and more particularly of Latin America, Africa and Asia. At the head of Socialist Cuba, he and Cuba were a great symbol of internationalism. His work had been a major contributor in bringing about freedom for the Cuban people, as well as an inspiration to millions fighting poverty and those forces that were their oppressors.

Fidel gave real and tested leadership while striking blows to colonial rule,

Fidel displayed remarkable integrity in adhering to moral, political and ethical principles.

Moreover, we shall be always thankful to Fidel’s Cuba international solidarity, from which many millions of people and countries have benefitted. Guyana is one of the many recipients of this selfless solidarity.

Cde Fidel would remain an icon for several generations. He symbolized the dreams of those who believe that this world has an alternative path. He fought for the liberation of the Cuban people, worked daily for the success of the Cuban Revolution, and influenced the socialist construction in Cuba. Fidel will also be remembered as a revolutionary who stood up against US imperialism, facing daunting odds in doing so.

The humanist ideals of socialism have manifested themselves in many ways in this Caribbean island. They influence social consciousness throughout the world, and are a continuing force which helps to keep alive the cherished hopes of the world’s working-people.

GAWU, and undoubtedly sections of Guyanese, will continue to support the Cuban people in their quest for peaceful co-existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of their country, and to bring a total end to the sanctions on Cuba. At this time, we once more express our full solidarity with Cuba, for an end to the ignominious and irrelevant US embargo.

GAWU, in this sad moment, sends condolences to the Government, the Cuban people and the Communist Party of Cuba.

The ideas of this outstanding revolutionary live on. His work, struggles, exploits and achievements will continue to inspire this generation of fighters, and still generations to come.

Farewell, dear comrade, the struggle continues.

Guyana owes Fidel Castro and the Cuban people a debt of gratitude - FITUG The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has noted the global outpouring of condolences and tributes issued and being issued on the occasion of the passing of Cuba’s outstanding and revered Revolutionary Leader, Fidel Castro Ruz. That the peoples of the world would be moved to record their respects on the death of a unique Third World icon coincides with, and confirms, FITUG’s view that Fidel was a great statesman and a recognized leader of the oppressed and exploited. Whatever the world felt about Fidel Castro, and no matter how varied the tributes, FITUG happily notes that Cuba a small island state, has captured international attention through its renowned revolutionary leader, now at rest.

As the representative of most of Guyana’s unionized workers, FITUG salutes Fidel as a Champion of the Working Class, who stood his ground and by his ideals COMBAT

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against all the mighty odds imposed by the mighty foes who were strongly opposed to the successful 1959 Revolution he led and the direction it followed. For Cubans, from sugar-cane harvesters to medical scientists to sportsmen and to the women who benefitted from the Socialist programmes of the egalitarian society which Cde Castro, the Cuban Government and the Communist Party established, Cde Fidel Castro will remain indelible and be a part of modern Cuban history.

The moving tributes to Cde Fidel capture his greatness. FITUG only wishes, at this time, to recall and record three (3) relevant points consequent upon his passing. Firstly, Fidel Castro and

his comrades were moved to carry out a revolution as a result of the trauma they experienced in living the inequalities and untold hardships in Cuban society, which were the consequences of rampant capitalism and Batista dictatorship. Secondly, Fidel’s revolution and struggles entailed immense sacrifices, which continue due to the decades-old US economic blockade against Cuba.

Thirdly, it is to the credit of the able and astute Cuban leadership – with the support rendered in the early years from the USSR and the Socialist community– that the Cuban people overcome their difficulties and travails and went on to achieve and sustain immeasurable heights in the

fields of education, medicine and sports, to name a sampling of their many endeavours. We also cannot fail to state the Venezuelan support to the Cuban people, which commenced under the leadership of late President Chavez and was continued by the Maduro Administration. The assistance, which came at a critical time for Cuba, continues to support the consolidation of the Cuban revolution.

Whatever his detractors may say, Fidel Castro’s Cuba’s exports to African and Latin America, Guyana and the Caribbean were essentially the humanitarian products of skills, solidarity missions, training programmes, and an admirable range of solidarity actions in many countries of the world.

Guyana owes Fidel Castro and the Cuban people a debt of gratitude. FITUG today, along with so many others, also extends thanks on behalf of our workingclass membership.

PAGE EIGHT

No API to sugar workers for the first time in its history istration of L.F.S. Burnham, who assured the workers on Vesting Day – May 26, 1976 – that their “conditions of employment shall not be less favourable”.

This commitment has been honoured until last y e a r .

A worker cutting canes. In 2016, sugar workers will, for the first time in the This year 64-year history of API, not receive the incentive (2016), Sugar workers will, this year (2016), for from what we can determine, the Guyana the first time in sixty-four (64) years, be Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) seemdeprived of Annual Production Incentive ingly did not want, in the first place, to (API). The Scheme, previously known as even discuss with the Guyana AgriculturAnnual Production Bonus (APB), came al and General Workers Union (GAWU) into being in 1952 when the industry the workers’ API claim. The Corporation was then under private ownership. This wrote to the Union, seeking the basis of incentive to a section of the productive its claim. GAWU, in response, pointed workforce continued after nationalizaout that its claim is related to whatever tion, which took place under the Admin-

quantity of sugar is produced, as is always, and no other factor. Following, the GAWU response, the Corporation, on November 24, 2016, engaged the Union in a session. GuySuCo’s lead person at the meeting was apparently in a hurry to convey to the Union’s delegation from the Estates and Union officials that the Company’s financial position precluded any API award. Furthermore, GuySuCo advised that its position was consistent with its no pay rise position this year (2016).

In fact, last year, the Corporation did not increase workers’ wages and salaries; however, it awarded a mere 2.72 days’ pay as API. GAWU wishes to emphasize that, in the previous years, whatever the level of sugar production, API was never denied to the workers. For instance, in 1990 the production was 129,920 tonnes sugar, and in 2013 it was 186,665 tonnes, yet five (5) API days’ pay were awarded on each occasion.

We need also to draw attention to the fact that despite the financial circumstances of the Corporation, workers were not deprived of pay increases and API awards prior to year 2015. It is generally accepted that denial of reasonable pay increases to workers is not only callous,

but serves to erode workers’ standard of living. It is even more obnoxious and counter-productive when really such a step can be avoided. The authorities are dangling the ‘debt’ question of the industry as their reason to not give the hardworking sugar workers an upward wage/ salary adjustment critical to them. But we wonder if the ‘debt’ reason is universally applied. Certainly not!

A Government and a State Corporation that is really concerned about its people and its workers would seek to overcome any such ‘hurdle’, as was done up to 2014 by the then Government/GuySuCo hierarchy.

No wage rise for 2015 and 2016 and no API in 2016 constitute a blatant assault on the 18,000 sugar workers, and represent a most crude and cruel treatment to the workers. No Government since independence in 1966 has ever been so unfair to the sugar workers. Such measures, as myriad experiences have shown, will not augur well for the industry. The turnaround of the industry is not being promoted but an aggravation of the industry’s problems, and, sadly, a degradation of the well-being of its employees, our fellow citizens’, lives.

DTL dismisses 11 striking workers gage in the exercise of collective bargaining.

The decision by the Company is yet another anti-worker and anti-Union act which is gaining traction in Guyana. Moreover, the actions of DTL are a flagrant violation of 147 (2) of the Guyana Constitution which says “Except with his or her own consent no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom to strike”. It follows that workers engaged in protests, picketing and demonstrations ought not to be penalized for their participation in such exercises.

The DTL workers picketing on October 04, 2016, the workers pictured were dismissed after the picketThe Company’s high-handed, ing exercise

The Management of the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) on October 04, 2016 dismissed eleven (11) workers for taking part in a picketing exercise outside of the Company’s Head Office. The workers COMBAT

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were protesting that their wage claim for year 2015 seeking a seven (7) per cent pay rise was not being addressed and thus the workers and their Union officials were pressing for the Company officials to en-

illegal and ominous act represents a decision which must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese. It is a clear attempt to intimidate the workers and use extra-legal measures to deny workers their just claims for pay

increase.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), in a statement, expressed its solidarity with the dismissed workers and deemed the Company’s decision to be most anarchic.

FITUG said that decision runs contrary to good industrial relations, to acknowledged Trade Union practices, and a vexing approach to employees, the likes of which has been a very rare occurrence in our society.

The Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour, summoned meetings for the attendance of the Company and the Union. The Company has refused to attend any of the meetings. Unfortunately, the Ministry which has the statutory authority to have the Company answerable before the Court for its failure to attend the Ministry’s meetings has not proceeded on this path. In the meanwhile, the eleven (11) workers are left to languish in a state of unemployment.

PAGE NINE

Budget Debates:

GAWU President Komal Chand says: “Budget 2017

GAWU President, Cde Komal Chand

Comrade Speaker, I take the floor to make my contribution to this 2017 Budget, presented by Minister Winston Jordan. At the outset, I must register that Budget 2017 will certainly propel our people and our country down a perilous path. It can, without fear of contradiction, be rightly described as an anti-workingpeople budget; and as a friend of mine remarked, it is a vampire one, literally set to suck the ‘blood’ out of our people from every walk of life. While Government talks about some improvements in truth this Budget by the APNU-AFC Administration is set to take away much, much more with one hand than the little it is giving with the other. It is worthy to note that even the likes of Mr GHK Lall, writing in the November 30 Stabroek News succinctly said:- “[i]nstead of the 2017 budget bringing some cheers, it has prompted more tears…”. It is shocking, disturbing and vexing for the Guyanese people to be now told, Comrade Speaker, of the number of items previously VAT-exempt or zero rated, that will now attract VAT. As many as fifty (50) items will now be taxed, thus aggravating the already hard and difficult times.

The hiking of a number of fees for Government services and licences, and the introduction of more taxes as well as the increases in others, will make the heavy burdens of our people unbearable.

“...the introduction of more taxes as well as the increases in others will make the heavy burdens of our people unbearable...”

Comrade Speaker, the APNU/AFC manifesto and the promises of those who now walk in the corridors of power are proving to be hollow. It is, without a doubt, a betrayal of the commitments and undertakings made by the Coalition during the 2015 elections. Promises of COMBAT

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a good life, a bright future, the creation of new and stable jobs, improved i n c om e s , and a more equal safe society were repeated ad nauseum.

But clearly, C omrade S p e a k e r, t h o s e prom is e s turned out to be insincere and merely vote-

gagements this year between the Government and the GPSU, one can recognize that those engagements were not in earnest, and what the employees got is one (1) to ten (10) per cent differential pay rises, which were imposed by the Government. Outstanding still are the concerns surrounding de-bunching and the different allowances. Also, strikingly, there has been no bargaining between Unions and semi-autonomous agencies and Corporations where hundreds of workers are employed.

The Government, through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Public Service, in circular numbered 3/2016 and titled “Increase in Salaries/Wages for 2016”, which is dated September 06, 2016, instructed that those agencies must obtain the permission of the Finance Secretary to pay increases similar to those given by the Government to the public service. Thus, Comrade Speaker, Collective Bargaining is but empty talk, and trade unions are simply sidelined.

getting gimmicks. Increasing economic pressures have gone hand-in-hand with heightened crime occurrences countrywide. Comrade Speaker, the momentum of general and hopeful development has slowed, if not stalled.

Our country is going down, and Budget 2017 will be accelerating the pace.

Comrade Speaker, in the almost nineteen (19) months of this Administration, the workers, farmers, pensioners, youth, women, the business community and miners have had their dreams of a brightened future transformed into a virtual nightmare. In this ‘short’ period, we have seen withdrawn several initiatives which benefited the ordinary people. Living costs are going up and living standards are on the decline. The Minister of Finance himself, in his Mid-Year Economic Report, revealed that food prices have risen by as much as 3.2 per cent for the first half of 2016; and in the Finance Ministry’s Monthly Economic Bulletin for September, 2016, we learnt about “increased prices for food, clothing and footwear and repairs”.

Even more disconcerting, Comrade Speaker, is that the Government appears oblivious to, or uncaring of, the plight they have brought on the people. Already, parking meters in Georgetown are being installed; there is talk about the hiking of rates and taxes and an increase in land rentals for farmers. We need to note that state support to the Demerara Harbour Bridge has been significantly reduced, according to the Estimates, undoubtedly to be followed by massive rise in the tolls sooner than later. The pressures on our people are mounting. These measures will undoubtedly not only put the poor and vulnerable and working people at a severe disadvantage ,but will surely undermine the gains enjoyed over recent years.

The Minister spoke rather glowingly about the Government’s commitment to Collective Bargaining in the public sector; but, Comrade Speaker, this is far from the real situation. Though there have been a few en-

Comrade Speaker, the promises of a “bright future” and a “good life” are now pushed down the drain by this Budget. For the employees in the sugar industry, they are meaningless and delusional. It should be recalled, Comrade Speaker, that in the 2015 elections campaign, APNU-AFC speakers promised the sugar workers twenty per cent wage increases and other niceties. Today, we face the painful reality that sugar workers’ purchasing power has, in effect, been decreasing by no pay increases for two years now. At the same time, the workers’ longstanding benefits and time-honoured traditions and practices are being whittled away by some of those very spokesmen, who now hold high positions. It must be asked, Comrade Speaker, what is it that these workers have done to the Administration to be treated so shabbily and inhumanely. Such treatment only feeds workers’ demotivation and deepens their alienation. Such treatment will only undermine a motivated and dedicated workforce, critical for a turnaround of the industry. One wonders whether this is purposeful, and it is baffling that the APNU/AFC Government can be so unconscionable.

And if that were not enough, Comrade Speaker, the Government seems to want to condemn the sugar workers to even greater hardship and deprivation through the sale and closure of estates. The Minister indicated that the Government would soon make known its intentions for the industry. More and more, there are signs that the sugar industry’s reprivatisation or denationalisation is being pursued with great speed. Such a step, I believe, Comrade Speaker, will be a monumental mistake, and one that will haunt us in the future. It is recalled that former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in nationalizing the industry with the full backing of the PPP and the trade unions forty (40) years ago, among other things, alluded to the repatriation of the industry’s profits by its then foreign owners and their lack of investment in the country. In these times, when neo-colonialism is raising its head in the world, reprivatisation can very likely do

“More and more, there are signs that the sugar industry’s reprivatisation or denationalisation is being pursued with great speed”

PAGE TEN

7 brings added hardships on our working people” much harm to our people, our economy, and our independence. The Jamaican experience, whereby the new owners failed to live up to their promises and just simply, earlier this year, decided to close operations, in an act which put at risk the livelihoods of thousands of workers and farmers there. Comrade Speaker, I urge the Government to carefully consider the decisions of divestment and closure of estates. This will be condemning the affected workers to even greater distress and misery.

From all appearances, Comrade Speaker, Skeldon Estate, the best and most valuable asset of the industry, is attracting an interested buyer or buyers. If it is a ‘time bomb’, and possesses all the negative characteristics made by certain officials who do, we still hear of interested buyer/s? There is something rotten in the State of Denmark! The facts on hand do not justify selling; selling therefore cannot be supported. I wish to advise that the prized Skeldon factory and its rich cane lands, along with the two (2) co-generation turbines, have the potential to make a major contribution to turnaround the sugar industry. Selling this estate, which might be very cheap, will be a grave blunder of the APNU/AFC Administration. Already, it is understood that a Memorandum of Understanding is in place with respect to the sale of the Estate – an important national asset. Thus, Comrade Speaker, I ask: are we given the full and real story about what is going on regarding Skeldon Estate?

Now, we are told, too,

by GuySuCo officials, that the Rose Hall Estate would be closed.

Yesterday it was Wales, now Rose Hall is identified; which other may follow? Like Skeldon, Rose Hall suddenly has become a liability. Going this way has several severeThe Parliament in session repercussions for the people and communities, including those of Providence, East Bank Berbice. In the Rose Hall Estate area, there are simply no alternatives which can readily accommodate the large number of workers that would be displaced.

The Corporation is touting non-sugar diversification at Providence as a means to offset the harsh consequences resulting from closure. It may be of interest, Comrade Speaker, to note an article appearing in the Kaieteur News of November 26, 2016 which referred to a recent study by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

According to the article, that study found that as much as thirty (30) per cent of food produced locally is either lost or wasted. Thus it is perplexing that the authorities are tending towards such a direction at this time.

Clearly, there is confusion regarding sugar. The course the Government has apparently set will not only see the destruction of the sugar industry, but that of the workers and their families, who will be pushed into a life of COMBAT

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poverty and despair.

Comrade Speaker, it is said that the Government’s approach to the industry is because billions are required.

Indeed, it brings into question whether the right persons are managing the industry, or is it being managed in such a manner so as to deliberately engender a certain outcome? This year, production has been revised now to 188,000 tonnes, according to the Minister of Finance’s recent disclosure, from 242,000 tonnes projected in the 2016 Budget. What a significant drop from last year, when the Government and GuySuCo boasted of a production of 231,000 tonnes. The Minister, in his address, sought to lay blame for this year’s production shortfall on strikes and the last El Nino weather conditions. Comrade Speaker, such utterances are misplaced and really show the Government’s disconnection from reality. The El Nino phenomenon was quite known when GuySuCo set its target at 242,000 tonnes. Moreover, there were scores of work stoppages in the past, when sugar production climbed to an average of about 320,000 tonnes, between 2002 and 2004. I must also point out, Comrade Speaker, that the Union and GuySuCo’s agreement acknowledges that the workers have a right to withhold

their labour in the event of an unresolved price dispute.

Comrade Speaker, the weather and the workers are but scapegoats for GuySuCo’s abysmal mismanagement of the industry, especially this year.

Comrade Speaker, the Minister said money invested in sugar is wasted. I interpret this as one of the most anti-workers’ statements made by a Minister. It would seem that the Minister and the Government have forgotten about sugar’s contributions, past and present.

Would it be right for me to say, Comrade Speaker, that the nearly $70B, at today’s exchange rate, paid as sugar levy, which went to support the country, is also wasted money? What about the nearly $30B received from the EU for sugar and not spent in the industry? Is that a waste? What about employment created, directly and indirectly? Is that a waste? What about the industry’s dependable foreign exchange earnings? Is that a waste?

What about the long-standing subsidy of the local sugar price? Is that a waste? Or, how about the drainage and

irrigation and other services for communities? Are they a waste? No, they aren’t! For us, Comrade Speaker, those contributions, among others, have redounded to the well-being of this country and its people in all times.

They alleviated the pains in many difficult situations, and still do today.

But, Comrade Speaker, I agree, that obviously, something is not right. The sudden poor performance of the industry this year needs to be questioned, especially as possibly a fire sale of the industry’s valuable and expensive assets is being pursued. In passing, allow me to urge the Government to compensate the Corporation the $1.9B for the Ogle property it has taken over for the Public Service College. At this time, only a small portion would be required for workers’ API benefits, who are being deprived of same this year - the first time in sixty-four (64) years.

The miniaturization or divestment of the industry, Comrade Speaker, is not an option in the best interest of Guyanese and Guyana. It is one which will affect our working-people greatly. The current options floated present significant risk, and will negatively impact our people’s lives and communities, and will shatter their aspirations and hopes for a better future.

The Government is hereby advised to not go down this road.

Comrade Speaker, the importance and contribution of our sugar industry was aptly put in perspective by Mr Tony Vieira, in his letter which appeared in the November 06, 2016 Stabroek News. Mr Vieira pointed out that: “All of the pundits who say abandon it can’t possibly be serious, the loss of the foreign exchange alone from our sugar would ruin Guyana even now”. He reminded us, very importantly, that: “Everything we are as a nation today is due mainly to the sugar industry”.

And he continued: “The levy, the subsidy of the local selling price for sugar, and the EU developmental funds which contributed to the economy of Guyana are more than all the billions of dollars given to the industry in bailout money thus far”.

Comrade Speaker, sugar has a viable future. The diversification into electricity production, specialty sugars, refined sugar and alcohol production offers us good prospects for the future. To miniaturize the industry is in effect to undermine the country and the workers’ future.

Comrade Speaker, I cannot support the course being mapped out for sugar. Likewise, Budget 2017 brings added hardships on our working people, and neither can I support it. I urge strongly that the Government withdraw the horrendous Budget.

PAGE ELEVEN

YEAR IN REVIEW

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