Issue #1 Volume #40
Combat Voice of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
EDITORIAL
A Constitutional Crisis
Probably the most major question on the minds of many Guyanese is the hosting of National and Regional elections. The elections’ timetable which has been brought forward following the successful passage of the opposition-sponsored No Confidence Motion (NCM) on December 21, 2018 meant that elections which were originally due by August, 2020 had to be held within 90 days of the passage of the NCM i.e. March 19, 2019. In the immediate aftermath of the passage, the Government accepted the consequences and acknowledged the elections would be held. Unfortunately, the recognition of the consequences of the NCM was short-lived, as certain specious justifications emerged from the Administration’s camp. Guyanese were told that 34 votes were needed for the successful passage of the motion. Also, our people heard that the motion’s passage was invalid due to the dual citizenship of the Government Member of Parliament (MP) who supported the NCM. Those contentions were quickly exposed, but the Government, seeking to cling to office persisted, and sought to have the Speaker of the National Assembly revisit the NCM. On that score, the Speaker informed the Government and the nation that he would not acquiesce to the Government’s request, and the NCM remained valid. Despite the clock ticking closer to the Constitutional deadline for elections, the Government moved to the Courts. Attempts by the Administration’s attorneys to halt the Constitutional clock were not entertained, and the Court committed itself to hearing the matters in a speedy manner. The Chief Justice, who heard the matters in a most efficient manner, in a matter of days delivered her verdict. As was widely expected, the Court did not find favour with the Government’s arguments, and upheld the NCM as valid. The Chief Justice, in her judgments, advised that the Cabinet resign immediately upon the passage of the NCM, whether such resignation was explicit or implicit. It in effect limited the decision-making powers of the Government. While in normal circumstances Governments are expected to abide by rulings of the Courts, especially given the message it sends to the wider populace, the current Government of Guyana has shown, time and again, that it is anything but normal. Days after the Chief Justice’s ruling, no lesser a person than President David Granger, at a political function, said his Government would function unhindered. This represents, in our view, a serious slap in the face of the Judiciary. In the meantime, the Government has approached the Court of Appeal, seeking to have the decisions of the Chief Justice overturned. What will play out at this forum is left to be seen. But while the Government dilly dallies, the Constitutional clock remains ticking, with two-thirds of the time already elapsed. Recently, the Bar Association of Guyana urged the Government to end its procrastination and set the tone for elections preparations. Continued on page two (2) COMBAT January/February, 2019
January/February, 2019
2019 sugar production expected to be marginally higher - sugar production target set at 107,023 tonnes
A loaded cane punt (barges) awaiting transport to a sugar factories. In Guyana, unlike any other sugar producing nation, harvested canes are transported by water. This year, the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) has set itself the target of 107,023 tonnes sugar
Sugar production for this year (2019) is scheduled to commence by the end of February, 2019 with the beginning of the first crop. This industry is hoping to produce 107,023 tonnes sugar, according to the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), for the year as follows:Estate Albion Blairmont Uitvlugt Total
1st Crop 18,511 7,955 7,397 33,863
2nd Crop 38,559 21,941 12,660 73,160
Year 57,070 29,896 20,057 107,023
This expected production target, if realized, will be 2,394 tonnes or 2.29 per cent higher than the 104,629 tonnes of sugar that GuySuCo produced in 2018. The poor level of sugar production is accountable especially to the lack of crucial field investment compounding years after year. Already, one year has gone by since GuySuCo secured a $30B bond to obtain the sustainability of the Corporation’s three (3) estates. A few billion dollars have been used to fund operational expenditure of the Corporation. This betrays the intention of the bond in the first place, which was secured to obtain the viability of the
estates through re-capitalisation work in the three (3) sugar factories and cane cultivations. The GAWU must express again that, from information at hand, no plan informing of projections, expenditures and income, among other vital information, has reached the stage of completion by GuySuCo and the Government to guide the utilization of the large sum that has been borrowed, and which is presently accruing interest. The Union during the latter part of 2018, had sought to engage the Corporation regarding its plans; only to learn, sadly, that even at this time GuySuCo has not approved the Union’s requested meeting. The GAWU, like many others, believes that the sugar industry can have a successful future and assured sustainability once policies to transform it from a sugar to sugar-cane industry are embraced. The Union has been a loud proponent of diversification into the areas of electricity, direct consumption sugars, refined sugar, alcohol, among other things. These are not new developments by any means, but have long been pursued by other sugar producing nations with success. We of the GAWU believe such success could very well be replicated in our country in the interest of the workers, the industry, and most of all the nation. PAGE ONE
A Constitutional Crisis Continued from page one (1) Such thoughts, however, appear furthest from the Government’s mind. Apart from futile Court actions, the Government is now contending that a new voters list produced from a house-to-house registration exercise is required. The Administration, in justifying its position, has argued that many young Guyanese are not registered voters. This seems strange, as the very list the Government is critical of was the exact list used during the November, 2018 Local Government elections, which the Administration then expressed no qualms about. Moreover, the claim that many young voters will be disenfranchised has little credibility. Over the years, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been conducting continuous registration exercises, with persons from age 14 being allowed to register and obtain a National Identification Card. As a result of those exercises, such persons, on their attainment of age 18, would automatically be placed on the official list of electors. It seems the Administration is crying wolf. This is especially noteworthy when the media reported that the Chief Elections Officer opined that the list is clean. So far, there is no clarity as to when elections would be held. Recently, GECOM announced it would need 148 days to
prepare for elections, but, at this time, preparations have yet to commence. It is felt that the timeline provided could be compressed. But whatever the case, it seems clear that the Constitutional deadline will not be met. Such deadline could only be extended by a vote of two-thirds of the National Assembly, which means that both the Government and Opposition must agree. That failing, it would mean Guyana would enter unchartered, murky constitutional waters. Recently, in a letter to media, Christopher Ram shared that in the post-deadline period, the Chancellor of the Judiciary would assume the role of President, presumably until elections are held. If this will be allowed to happen is another matter, as the Government’s actions thus far does not indicate it is prepared to relinquish the reins of power. The continued grasp of power by the Government could see our country be labelled a pariah state and face several sanctions as a result. Such developments will most of all hurt our working-people. It is clear that the Government’s charade needs to come to an end, and preparations for elections advanced in the quickest possible manner. Our cherished democracy is being sacrificed at the altar of power; it is a matter that Guyanese and the international community cannot ignore.
Will fuel reduction benefit our working-people? - FITUG The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has recognized that the Government announced that, effective February 04, 2019, the price of fuel at the state-owned Guyoil has been reduced by 10 per cent. In its announcement, the Government shared that the reduction was due to lower acquisition costs, though we are aware that oil prices have been falling for some time now. It is not lost on us that the fuel price reduction comes just days after the major coalition partner launched its election campaign committee and there have been heightened Ministerial outreaches. Whether it is a strange coincidence or not we are not sure, but the timing does seem suspect. For our beleaguered and hard-pressed working-people, the reduction is a most welcome reprieve at this time. While happy about this development, whatever the motivations are, we remain, at the same time, extremely concerned as to whether the savings that will accrue will be passed on to our people. Already, our workers have been made to find thousands more per month to meet the increased cost of public transportation. In view of this newest development, would the Ministry COMBAT January/February, 2019
of Business be reviewing the recently increased fares, taking into account the reduction? Will there be any sort of mechanism deployed to ensure that the benefits of the timely reduction are enjoyed by especially our working-poor? We could not fail to note that the reduction only applies to gasoline and dieseline. On this score, we wonder whether the acquisition costs of kerosene and cooking gas have not declined as well. For us, it is strange that just the prices of just two (2) types of fuel have been reduced, but the other remains where they are. We would hope that the Administration would provide a rational explanation regarding this clearly puzzling adjustment. Many, including FITUG, have long called for the Government to meaningfully address the cost of fuel, recognizing its impact on the wider society. Notwithstanding the credible reasons for the Government’s intervention, it remained defiant and unmoved by the calls of the Guyanese people and their organizations. The eleventh hour entry on the eve of possibly National elections, in our view, does little to demonstrate that the Administration’s move in this regard was sincere and profound.
Commentary:
Jobless Growth
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President, Dr Warren Smith, at a recent function, said the Guyanese economy is one of the fastest growing in the region. For the ordinary Guyanese, Dr Smith’s remarks vis-à-vis the reality on the ground seems awry. The CDB President said significant growth was recorded in the areas of construction largely related to commercial oil production. Dr Smith’s remarks go to show why the devil is always in the details, as he only pointed to one area which is responsible for the economic growth being recorded. The fact is that, outside of the oil sector, not much else is really happening. The CDB President pointed out that the CDB member states’ economies grew on average by 2 per cent last year whereas Guyana’s economy recorded 3.4 per cent growth. Here the CDB President would have used data from the 2019 Budget, which indicated that the economy would have grown by 3.4 per cent; but that was an estimate, and as far as we are aware the official figure has not been released. Moreover, it has been hard to give credibility to the Government’s estimates, noting that in the 2018 budget it was estimated that the economy would grow by 3.8 per cent when it really grew by 2.1 per cent. But apart from the question of the statistics, the bread and butter issue remains the adequacy of good, decent jobs. The most recent Guyana Labour Force Sur-
vey informed that more than 12 per cent of Guyanese were unemployed, and that data is not reflective of the 4000-plus Guyanese who lost their jobs when Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara estates shut their doors at the end of 2017. Moreover, that report informed that 22.9 per cent of Guyanese youth were unemployed in other words, 1 out of every 5 young people didn’t have a job. At that time too nearly 10 per cent of the population was underemployed, meaning they were in jobs they were overqualified. The findings, taken together, mean that 22 per cent of the population was not in adequately suited jobs. The fact that such a situation is taking place when Guyana is one of the Caribbean’s fastest growing economies should not be cause for celebration, but an occasion for deep worry and anxiety. What is appearing, as many have widely pointed to, is that the economy would be subsumed by the oil sector, which will leave the largest imprint on the country. While we have seen Government officials advising that they would seek to avoid the infamous Dutch Disease, their very actions have, it seems, placed us firmly in its throes. Clearly and vividly, the picture is being painted that Guyana has found itself in a situation of jobless growth. Such a situation is not in the interest of our country and people, as it has its own telling consequences.
By Cde Donald Ramotar, Former President of Guyana
Knowledge for him was to serve a purpose. That purpose was the welfare of the Guyanese people. He was an activist, an organizer and educator of the PPP. His work saw him serving in the National Assembly of our land. It was a difficult period in our history. The Parliament was reduced to being a mere rubber stamp of the PNC regime. Comrade Basir took his activism to the National Assembly and had several epic confrontations with the PNC and the then puppet Speaker of the Parliament. He felt the wrath of the PNC regime. He was shot several times in broad daylight on a busy ‘steamer day’ at Adventure on the Essequibo Coast at the instigation of a PNC activist. It was his strength, both physical and political, and his love of life that saw him pulling through a near death attack. No one was ever charged with the attempted murder. Continued on page seven (7)
Tribute to Cde Isahak Basir
It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Comrade Isahak Basir of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast. Isahak Basir was a friend, comrade and brother to countless PPP and PPP/Civic supporters. I am grateful that I have had the honour and pleasure of serving with him in the fight for freedom and democracy. I am also proud to have served with him as we worked to reconstruct our country in the post-1992 period. Comrade Basir, a true disciple of Cheddi Jagan, was highly educated by the school of life. He paid a lot of attention to studying and propagating the goals of the People’s Progressive Party. He was articulate with a deep understanding of politics, culture and religion. He could have held his own in any company.
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FITUG in solidarity with BCGI workers
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) cannot, at this time, fail to express its deep concern and utter dismay regarding the unfolding developments regarding the workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI). They, like all workers, are seeking better pay and working conditions, especially taking account of the circumstances of life now-a-days. The workers are rightly demanding that their rights to Collective Bargaining be respected, and have seen their principled position met with a most distasteful, and arguably illegal, response by the foreign-owned Company. The FITUG sees the high-handed approach by the BCGI as grossly disrespectful to our workers, our laws, and all Guyanese. The actions by BCGI are reminiscent of a similar act by another foreign-owned enterprise – Demerara Timbers Limited. That Company in 2016 chose a similar route, apparently to punish workers for taking part in a protest
to demand improvements. The matter which reached the High Court came to an end when that Company opted to settle the matter, obviously recognizing that it was in the breach. The right to Collective Bargaining and Union representation, the FITUG reiterates, was won by the struggles of past generations of Guyanese, and has now become a proud feature of life in Guyana. The naked and clear disrespect of these hard-fought rights cannot be condoned in any way, shape or form. We recognized that the workers are not daunted, but are committed to their struggle. This is indeed laudable, and they can be assured of our full support. The Federation also calls on the Department of Labour, and more so the Government of Guyana, to apprehend the situation and ensure that the workers’ rights are unconditionally respected. At this time, the FITUG extends its full and unstinted solidarity with the workers, their families and their Union.
Justice Sandil Kissoon, in an order dated January 21, 2019, mandated the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to pay one month’s pay to those retrenched Wales cane cutters who worked at Uitvlugt Estate following the closure of Wales at the end of 2016. Through the order issued, the workers in question were to be severed effective November 30, 2018 and paid one month’s pay in lieu of notice. For workers who didn’t take up work at Uitvlugt, the Court ordered that they be severed with effect from December 31, 2016 and paid four (4) per cent interest per annum up to December 05, 2018. Already those workers have fully received their respective payments. With regards to those who worked at Uitvlugt, they received severance payments, but did not benefit from the one month’s pay. The GuySuCo was seeking not to abide with this element of the consensual order (agreed to by the attorneys of the Union and the Company).
The GAWU, in view of the Corporation’s position, pressed to have the order issued which has confirmed that the Union’s position was indeed correct. As is now wellknown, t h e G AW U a p proached t h e Courts on the workers’ behalf after the GuySuCo refused to pay the cane cutters of Wales their severance payments, though they were entitled to such sums. The Corporation, for its part, insisted that the workers take up work at
Fee-charging at Skeldon is rubbing salt in the wound
An ex-Skeldon Estate worker catching fish. He and other workers seeking to traverse the cultivation are being made to pay fees, though they have been largely unemployed for over a year and are catching fish mainly to feed their families
The GAWU was extremely upset to learn from an article appearing in the February 07, Guyana Times that former jobless sugar workers and others who seek to traverse the Skeldon Estate cultivation are being asked to pay a fee. The article, if factual, informs that persons mainly seeking to catch fish or reap wild karela must pay a fee, which in essence is really taxing them at a time when they are struggling to put food on their tables or to re-sell to make a dollar to possibly send their children to school, or to pay their bills or meet some other necessity of life. For our Union, the additional burden being posed by the fee being demanded can be seen as further rubbing salt in the deep wound occasioned by the loss of a large number of jobs in the area and the befalling of hardships on thousands
due to the closure of Skeldon Estate. The GAWU is concerned that at a time when monies are already hard to come by, the fee being asked will bring to bear even more pressure. From the article, several persons who were interviewed confirmed the challenges they are facing since the Estate closed its gates over a year ago. In the meantime, the GAWU has written the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to express our concern and seek that consideration be given to a waiver of the fee in view of the circumstances that plague the people now-a-days. We hope that our request would be favourably considered to bring at least a little reprieve to the suffering that has become a sad characteristic of life in the villages that are linked to the now closed sugar estates.
Uitvlugt, which was some 22 miles away from Wales. The GAWU had pointed out to the Corporation that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) obligated it to sever the workers when it was unable to provide similar w o r k within a 10 mile radius. It was dismaying that notwithstanding the clear and unambiguous section of TESPA, the state-owned GuySuCo refused bluntly to respect the workers’ rights. For us it was
disconcerting that the Corporation took on such an adamant position, going as far as issuing covert and overt threats to the concerned workers, though it was clearly on the wrong side of the law. We could not help but wonder whether the GuySuCo stance was fanned by support it was receiving from those who are giving it guidance and instructions. At this time, the Union has drawn to the Corporation’s attention the relevant aspect of the Order, and urges its compliance. Should the GuySuCo not abide, it will naturally be in contempt of Court. In fact, we recognized the Order informs parties in its last sentence that “if you fail to comply with the terms of this order, you will be held in contempt of court and may be liable to imprisonment or to have your assets confiscated”. We trust that, unlike the recent past, the Corporation would let better judgment prevail and abide by the Order.
High Court orders that Wales cane cutters be awarded a month’s pay
COMBAT January/February, 2019
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In solidarity with Venezuela
CARICOM Heads of Government
Heads of Government are following closely the current unsatisfactory situation in Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, a neighbouring Caribbean country. They expressed grave concern about the plight of the people of Venezuela, and the increasing volatility of the situation brought about by recent developments which could lead to further violence, confrontation, breakdown of law and order, and greater suffering for the people of the country. Heads of Government reaffirmed their guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights and democracy. Heads of Government reiterated that the long-standing political crisis, which has been exacerbated by recent events, can only be resolved peacefully through
meaningful dialogue and diplomacy. In this regard, Heads of Government offered their good offices to facilitate dialogue among all parties to resolve the deepening crisis. Reaffirming their commitment to the tenets of Article 2 (4) of the United Nations Charter, which calls for Members States to refrain from the threat or the use of force, and Article 21 of the Charter of the Organization of American States, which refers to territorial inviolability, the Heads of Government emphasized the importance of the Caribbean remaining a Zone of Peace. Heads of Government called on external forces to refrain from doing anything to destabilize the situation, and underscored the need to step back from the brink. They called on all actors, internal and external, to avoid actions which would escalate an already explosive situation to the detriment of the people of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and which could have far-reaching negative consequences for the wider region. Heads of Government agreed that the Chairman of Conference, Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, would seek an urgent meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General to request the U.N’s assistance in resolving the issue.
Government of Guyana
The Government of Guyana is gravely concerned at the deepening of the political crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and supports calls made at both the regional and international levels for immediate dialogue involving all political and social actors, with a view to the preservation of the democratic process and a return to normalcy. COMBAT January/February, 2019
Guyana calls on all parties to desist from actions that might lead to further violence and loss of lives. . The Government of Guyana remains firmly supportive of efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful means and with full respect for human rights and the rule of law.
FITUG
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is concerned about the situation in Venzeuela, which remains challenging, while in certain outside quarters one still hears of threats and more sanctions, no doubt with the intention of aggravating the already bad conditions. Progressive, democratic and working-class forces and organizations, in addition to very many governments worldwide, have, justifiably, condemnedwhat generally, has been defined as an attempted coup against the democratically elected Maduro Government. It is to be recalled that Nicholas Maduro was re-elected on May 20, 2018 following elections in Venezuela which were observed by some 150 observers, who certified that the election was transparent. President Maduro received over 6.2 million votes or 67.8 per cent of the total votes cast with voter turnout pegged at 46 per cent of eligible voters. Without a doubt, Nicholas Maduro is the legitimate President of Venezuela. It is this consideration, above all, that has added weight to the determination that a coup attempt is underway in Venezuela and is being blatantly instigated by certain governments, several of which have had or still have an unsavory relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean. There is a growing recognition that such actions by these countries, aligned to local reactionary forces, are motivated in their anti-democratic drive at this time by naked self-interest; that is, with their eyes on the country’s vast resources. It is established that Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world; it is one of the world’s largest gold producers, apart from being blessed with other minerals. We neither can ignore the widely held view that what is underway over there is about reasserting domination over the region, much as it were in the heyday of
colonialism. We are reminded of Venezuela’s progressive and people-oriented development over the past two (2) decades. It played a major role in the setting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and ALBA, UNASUR, the establishment of the Bank of the South, Petrosur deal with Caribbean countries and in Guyana engaged with a robust and beneficial trade with our rice industry. This coup in progress raises once again the spectre of the Munroe Doctrine. It provides yet another occasion to learn the sad facts of recent progressive governments in our hemisphere – against Chavez (2002); Aristide in Haiti (2004); Manuel Zelaya in Honduras (2010), and followed by Parliamentary coups against Fernando Lugo of Paraguay and Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. We, of FITUG, reiterate our firm solidarity with the democratically elected Nicholas Maduro Government of Venezuela and the democratic forces and people who are frustrating and exposing the various ploys resorted to by the reactionary governments and their vassals to effect regime change in Venezuela. For instance, we recently saw UN spokesman Stephan Dujarrie saying: “Humanitarian action needs to be independent of political, military or other objectives”. We uphold such sentiments, recognizing the experiences in many countries. At this time, we support the organizations, especially in the US, which are mobilizing to oppose military intervention and the continuing efforts to destablise this country. We are encouraged by the principled stand taken by Sister Caribbean countries in CARICOM as well as the unambiguous expression of solidarity coming from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), which speaks for tens of millions of workers of the world. We in FITUG strongly oppose the coup attempt in Venezuela. We uphold democratic norms and subscribe to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States. PAGE FOUR
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Most of the world does not like US foreign policy
By Vijay Prasad The United Nations General Assembly has once again voted overwhelmingly to condemn the U.S. embargo against Cuba. 189 member-nations of the world said Cuba does not deserve this embargo, which began in 1961 and has continued — unabated — to this day. Only two countries — the United States and Israel — voted against the motion. No country abstained. Cuba’s minister for foreign affairs, Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla, said the U.S. embargo has cost the small socialist island state upwards of $933.678 billion, with the losses in the past year amounting to $4.3 billion. The Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as regional groupings from Africa to Latin America, backed the resolution. China’s representative to the UN, Ma Zhaoxu, made the case that the U.S. embargo on Cuba prevented the island from meeting its obligations to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Threats by the United States did not convert the vote of otherwise reliable U.S. allies. Each year since 1992, a resolution of this kind has come before the UN General Assembly. Each year, the world has overwhelmingly voted against the U.S. embargo. This year was no different. The Pew Research Center released a poll that looked at the image of Donald Trump and the United States in 25 countries around the world. In most countries, neither Trump nor the United States come off well. Seventy percent of the populations in these countries have no confidence in Trump. The same number of people believe that the United States does not take the interests of other countries into consideration when moving policies forward. This is evident with the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Neither the people of Canada nor Mexico — the closest neighbours of the United COMBAT
January/February, 2019
States — has a favourable view of either Trump or the United States. Only Israel, which voted with the United States over the embargo on Cuba, has a high opinion of Trump and of the United States. Beyond the Pew poll, it is evident from the atmosphere in the United Nations that the countries of the world—even close U.S. allies—fear U.S. policy on a number of issues. Cuba is a canary in the coal mine. But even clearer is the U.S. policy of ramping up sanctions against Iran. At the debate over the U.S. embargo on Cuba, Iran’s representative to the UN — Gholamali Khoshroo — detailed how the U.S. has withdrawn from several international agreements, and how the U.S. has failed to implement UN Security Council resolutions that it does not like. Behind Khoshroo’s comments lay the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal agreed upon by Iran and the UN Security Council members, the United Nations and the European Union. This deal was sanctified by a UN Security Council resolution. Trump’s unilateral move to scuttle the nuclear deal and the return of sanctions against Iran replicates — Khoshroo intimated — the long-standing and unpopular sanctions against Cuba. The United States, Khoshroo said, should “sincerely apologize” to the people of Cuba and Iran. As the new U.S. sanctions regime went into place against Iran, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in Ankara, “U.S. sanctions on Iran are wrong. For us, they are steps aimed at unbalancing the world. We don’t want to live in an imperialist world.” Erdogan is not alone here. Even countries with close ties to the United States — such as India and Japan — are against the sanctions. They may not use words like “imperialist,” but their actions clearly bristle at the heavy-handedness of the U.S. Government when it comes to its use of instruments such as financial sanctions.
It was clear that China was never going to honour the new U.S. sanctions on Iran; nor were Turkey and Iraq, and nor were the three large economies of Asia that rely on Iranian oil. No wonder the United States gave these countries waivers to the sanctions. These countries — including India and Japan — have been discussing the need for an alternative financial system so that they can do trade with countries that are sanctioned by the United States. They do not believe that the United States should be allowed to suffocate world trade through its control over banking systems and through the world’s reliance upon the dollar. Pressure to build alternatives no longer comes from the margins; it comes from Tokyo and New Delhi, from Frankfurt and Seoul. One major casualty of the U.S. sanctions on Iran will be Afghanistan, already ripped apart by almost two decades of war. Afghanistan relies upon Iranian oil. Just as the U.S. sanctions went into place against Iran, Ahmad Reshad Popal, director general of Afghanistan’s Customs Department, opened the Farah crossing to Iranian goods. Even Afghanistan, virtually under U.S. occupation, cannot abide by the U.S. policy on Iran. Nor even can the NATO troops, whose trucks are fuelled — in part — by Iranian oil. George W. Bush used the term “axis of evil” to lump together Iran, Iraq and North Korea. Of the three, the U.S. could only go to war against Iraq in 2003. Pressure for regime change in North Korea was held back by its nuclear weapons programme, and pressure for regime change in Iran continues. Donald Trump has now come up with a new term — “troika of tyranny,” which includes Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. In Miami, Trump’s close adviser John Bolton gave a speech wherein he inaugurated this term. He spoke of the rightwing turn in Latin America and the isolation — as far as he was concerned—of socialist governments. Bolton celebrated the election of men such as Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil) and Ivan Duque (Colombia), men who he said are committed to “free-market principles and open, transparent, and accountable governance.” No mention here of the grotesque views of Bolsonaro or the militarism of both men. Bolton called the leaders of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela “strongmen.” There
is no more “clownish, pitiful” figure — to borrow from Bolton — than Bolsonaro; no more authoritarian heads of government than Bolsonaro, Duque and Trump. Duque has taken Colombia into NATO, a sign that the Colombian military will now answer more to Washington than to the Colombian people. In his speech, Bolton threatened the governments in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Trump’s administration, he said, “is taking direct action against all three regimes” — “direct action” a key phrase here. The United States invaded Cuba in 1898 ,and held it as a virtual colony till the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Pressure on the Cuban Revolution intensified by 1961, with the U.S. forcing an embargo on the island, attempting an invasion of the country, and attempting to assassinate the leadership of the revolution. United States Marines entered Nicaragua in 1909, and occupied the country till 1933. When the Marines left, the national liberation forces under Augusto César Sandino attempted to free the country. Sandino was assassinated, and a U.S.backed dictatorship by the Somoza family ruled the country till 1979. That year, the Sandinistas—named after Sandino— overthrew the dictatorship. In response, the U.S. funded the Contras (short form for counter-revolutionary forces), who prosecuted a bloody war against the small country. Ever since Hugo Chavez came to power in Venezuela, the U.S. has tried to overthrow the Bolivarian revolution that he inaugurated. A failed coup in 2002 was followed up by various forms of intimidation and sanctions. Itchy fingers in the Trump administration are eager to start a shooting war somewhere in South America—either Cuba, Nicaragua or Venezuela. The appetite for this is not there in the United Nations, nor is it shared in Latin America, but that has never stopped the United States. Disregard for world opinion as well as the opinion of the U.S. citizenry defines the U.S. Government. Thirty-six million people around the world, half a million of them in New York City, protested on February 15, 2003 to prevent the U.S. war on Iraq. George W. Bush did not pay attention to them. Nor will Trump. In August, 2017, Trump asked his advisers why the U.S. can’t just invade Venezuela. Trump next said he was considering the “military option” for Venezuela. At a private dinner with four Latin American allies, Trump asked if they wanted the U.S. to invade Venezuela. Each of them said no. Not sure if their opinions count.
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FITUG says:
Government seems least bothered by brewing crisis The Government of Guyana, which has been defeated on a No Confidence Motion (NCM) – or Confidence Motion, as we saw one Government official futilely arguing – seems to us, least bothered, if not unconcerned, by the consequences of its defeat and the Constitutional provisions which have been activated in its wake. The NCM, as is widely known, was upheld by both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the High Court. In recent days and weeks, the FITUG has seen several organisations and individuals, through various expressions, drawing attention to the dangerous waters out country is slowly, but disturbingly, entering into. The entry into uncharted territory brings to the surface a new host of unknowns and what really would take place when the current ticking Constitutional deadline draws to an end. As anxiety and concern in the society heightens, the Federation has noted that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during what was deemed a ‘briefing’, informed that all Ministers have been engaging regularly in plenary sessions with the Head of State. The February 16, Kaieteur News reported that the Ministerial grouping has been meeting at plenaries which “… have all the powers of Cabinet”. The newspaper article informed that Minister Harmon said the body “…is considering several Bills and ‘noting’ the award of contracts”. The Stabroek News, also of February 16, reported that the State Minister, when “[q]uestioned repeatedly as to which law empowers a plenary to exercise the powers of Cabinet… maintained that the grouping drew its legitimacy from the powers of the President”. The sleight of hand answer from the State Minister, who incidentally is among the many Government Ministers who hold law degrees, in our view, cannot be deemed acceptable. While the Minister explained, according to the media, that the current decision-making configuration seeks to comply with the Chief Justice’s ruling in that the Cabinet’s resignation was automatic on the passage of the NCM, we see it as a blatant assault on our Constitution, and moreover as being contemptuous of the High Court decision. The shielding behind the President’s authority, in our view, has little justification, if any at all, when the Official Gazette dated February 16 has Minister of State and Mr Edward Persico, as Secretary of the Ministerial Plenary, approving the appointment of certain State Boards. Incidentally, Mr Persico, sometime ago, was revealed to be Secretary to the Cabinet. If it is the President who has the decision-making power, as Minister Harmon contends, shouldn’t it be he approving the State Board we ask? Whether President Granger has such COMBAT January/February, 2019
powers in the first place is another question that undoubtedly requires an unambiguous answer obviously grounded in law. From our perspective, the acts and justifications advanced by the State Minister in themselves do not hold any water. It is our understanding that there is no legal basis for the so-called ‘Ministerial Plenary’, and its convening is yet another manifestation of the Government’s naked disrespect for our Constitution and more so the intellect of the Guyanese people. The fact remains that , from all indications, the Administration has frittered away two-thirds of the Constitutional timeline for elections. The FITUG cannot help but reiterate once again that the Government, prior to its election, had unconditionally committed itself to upholding the Constitution. Moreover, in the oaths which our Governmental leaders took, as they placed their hand on a religious text, they swore solemnly, among other things, to uphold our Constitution without fear or favour. Today, we ask what has happened and wonder whether the Administration, which boasts about its positive record, is seemingly very much petrified to face the electorate. The FITUG is also concerned that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not begun, as reported, even the slightest of preparations for elections. This Commission, which through media reports had indicated it would begin preparations after the passage of the NCM, has recently informed the Guyanese people that despite billions in funding over the years, it is not currently in a state of readiness, though this contention is being strongly challenged. We are not unaware that concerns have been expressed that the timelines could be compressed, but the lack of decisiveness at the Elections Commission has prevented the electoral body from taking the first of many necessary steps. Indeed, the Chairman, who is charged with ensuring the body fulfills its mandate, needs to bring his seeming arm’s length approach to an end and act proactively. The FITUG is also not deaf to the calls for house-to-house registration, but we know, too, that it was this exact list - which is now seen with a critical lens - that was used in the recent Local Government Election without an adverse comment or denunciation. While we accept that periodic cleansing of the list should be done, we wonder, at the same time, what was the purpose of the several continuous registration exercises done over the years. Certainly, persons who have come of voting age would automatically be included among the Official List of Electors (OLE), and, therefore, we are at a loss at the sudden hue
and cry for house-to-house registration. On this matter, we also could not ignore that no less a person than the Chief Elections Officer Mr Keith Lowenfield, in the February 05 Kaieteur News, is reported to have said “…he is of the opinion that the voters’ list is clean and valid…”. It certainly throws cold water on the several contentions we have seen advanced. At this time, in our view, what is urgently needed is frank, sincere and open dialogue between the Leader of the Opposition and the President, to avoid what is impending. We were heartened to see
recently the Opposition Leader indicating he is open to meeting the President on elections and media reports have indicated that the President is receptive to such engagements. Clearly, time is not on our side, and there is a need for the two (2) leaders to meet with great haste to avert what some have described as the worst Constitutional crisis in our nation’s history. Today, leadership, and not brinkmanship, is required. Foremost on our leaders’ mind must be respect for our people’s inalienable democratic and constitutional rights.
A foreign exchange crisis - another manifestion of sugar’s minimisation In recent weeks, it has come to light that there appears to be a shortage of foreign currency, more particularly United States dollars, in our country. One agency, in a notice to customers, advised that it is transacting business at G$232 = US$1, this occurrence took place at the same time that the Bank of Guyana was trading US dollars for G$207. Combat, apart from several others, had warned not too long ago that such a crisis was brewing. The Government, rather than proactively addressing the matter, said persons were creating hysteria. Even now, it seems, the Administration is behaving like an ostrich and putting its head in the sand. Recently, the Governor of the Bank of Guyana told the media that there is sufficient foreign currency but there is a shortage of US dollar notes. How can there be sufficient foreign currency and at the same time an experince of shortage of notes. But as Guyanese well-know, moon a run till day catch am; meaning that whatever is hidden in darkness will come to light. It seems that the day has now caught the moon. In the Combat article, the GAWU recognized that both foreign and gold reserves had sunk to new lows. At the same time, export earnings had fallen dramatically while foreign currency demands to pay for imports climbed higher. Faced with such circumstances, the Government intervened and sought to control exchange rates by setting the difference between buying and selling rates. Of course such a policy could be pursued for a period, but without any changes, implosion or explosion was bound to happen. The minimization of the sugar industry has also affected the situation in the foreign currency market. Head of Guyana Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI), Dhanraj Singh, in a Facebook post, explained “the closure of not one but four sugar estates is the primary reason for the shortage of foreign currency”. Singh went
on to say, “[a]fter all, Guysuco alone in 2015, earned US$74 million. In fact, from 2010-2014, Guysuco earned US$90M, $118M, $129M, $113M, & $84M respectively”. The GBPI head also said “…terrible economics was thinking that subsidies to Guysuco were a burden on the treasury without paying attention to the fact that Guysuco was the foreign currency cash cow earning machine”. Similar sentiments were expressed in an article titled “The Minimisation of Sugar – a macroeconomic challenge” which was written by GAWU’s Assistant General Secretary Cde Aslim Singh in the July – December, 2018 edition of the Thinker journal. In that article, Cde Aslim said, “[w]ith the reduction in sugar production... and no other industries to make up for their decline in exports, all signs point to a worsening in the net export position”. The article went on to say that “[l]esser foreign exchange earnings... would place greater pressure on foreign exchange reserves to be used”. Finally, on the matter, he said, “[t]he plundering of our foreign exchange reserves cannot continue ad infinitum, and without any improvement in our foreign exchange earnings, the depreciation of the Guyana Dollar appears on the horizon”. Interestingly, less than two (2) months have elapsed since that article was published. The manifestations in the foreign exchange market cannot be delinked, as the two (2) personalities revealed, from lesser earnings of the sugar industry. It is yet another tangible demonstration of the importance of the sugar industry in the sustenance of the Guyanese economy. It sadly confirms once again that the decision to willy-nilly close sugar estates, put thousands out of work and now significantly curtail an important foreign exchange earner was a patently wrong decision.
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New branch committees elected
GAWU successfully concludes Berbice Area Conference
- as several branch conferences are concluded
Delegates attending the Berbice Area Conference
Delegates attending the Blairmont GAWU Branch Conference
The GAWU, in keeping with its constitution, has organised branch conferences at several locations. The Union’s constitution requires the holding of annual branch conferences which review the work of the branch over the preceding year. The conferences are addressed by a Union leader, who would reflect on comptemporary happenings and what appears on the road ahead. At the conference, a new branch committee would be elected which would be charged with overseeing the affairs of the branch until the next conference. The branch committees elected so far are as follows:Albion Estate Chairman: Micheal Indardat; Vice Chairman: Ganga Persaud Shivdyal; Secretary: Chandranauth Singh; Assistant Secretary: Imran Alimohamed, and Committee Members: Hernie Parks, Premchand Pooran, Deryck John, Victor McKenzie, Vishwanauth Ramcharitar, Arjuna Verasammy, Deryck Hector, Sandra Permaul, Sharmella Lilboy, Haseeb Mohamed, and Saywack Ramjas. Blairmont Estate Chairman: Julius Nurse; Vice Chairman:
Gowkarran Inderjit; Secretary: Bhikram Singh; Assistant Secretary: Yudhistirnauth Persaud, and Committee Members: Samantha Phillips, Nadine Pluck, Wilbert Johashen, Abdool, Devanand Inderpol, Malcolm Jacque, Abdul Subhan, Gewan Persaud, Rohan Hilton, Zaman Ali, and Balwant Singh. Uitvlugt Estate Chairman: Lochan Khandai; Vice Chairman: Deonandan; Secretary: Awad Bhagwandin; Assistant Secretary: Nardeo Moolcharran, and Committee Members: Kuamie Chandler, Helena Broomes, Sookdeo Khan, Seecharran Ram, Mukesh Ramdeen, Dexter Pinder and Outdar Harold. National Parks Commission Chairman: Michael Blackman; Vice Chairman: Dick Squires; Secretary: Nykesie Rodney; Assistant Secretary: Christine Comacho, and Committee Members: Carl Blair, Donald Mahadeo, Grace Charles, Orin Benjamin and Weslyn Fraser. Conferences for the other branches will soon be held.
Tribute to Cde Isahak Basir
Continued from page two (2) Isahak Basir served his party and people with great distinction. Basir was one of a few comrades who educated his family in the ideology of the PPP and encouraged them to be activists and fighters for peace and social progress. His whole family, immediate and extended, stood firmly with the PPP through thick and thin. He will always be remembered by those of us who shared his life. COMBAT January/February, 2019
On behalf of my family I extend deepest sympathy to a comrade whose work and sacrifices has helped greatly in pushing our country from dictatorship to democracy and prosperity under the PPP/C administration. Rest in peace dear comrade and thanks for a job well done. The GAWU also extends its condolences to the Cde Bashir’s relatives and friends.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), on (Saturday) January 19, 2019, held its Berbice Area Conference under the theme “Protecting Workers Rights and Benefits in a Challenging Period”. The Conference, which was held at the Albion Sports Complex attracted approxmately 130 delegates and observers from Albion and Blairmont estates, the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI), and Amazon Caribbean (Guyana) Limited, where the Union enjoys bargaining rights.
the slowing-down of the economy, the rising cost-of-living, and increased unemployment as well. Delegates were also peeved about the arrangements of our new-found oil resources, and were concerned that other industries were being ignored in favour of oil, which they felt wasn’t the wisest of approaches. Concern was also expressed regarding the disrespect meted out to our country’s Constitution, which the Conference observed was our nation’s foremost law and should be respected by all Guyanese.
The Conference noted that the future does not appear to be bright, notwithstanding the grandeur-like promises by the Administration’s spokespersons that conditions will be greatly improved in the country with the commercial production of oil.
On the sugar industry, delegates were particularly upset that thousands of sugar workers have been made jobless in recent times, without any plans to address their well-being and welfare. The Conference noted that the closure of estates was not going in the right direction, especially when one considers that there are real possibilities for the sugar industry to be turned around and put on a sustainable path. The situation in the sugar industry, which is characterized by confusion, indecision, and a lack of leadership, also did not escape attention. Delegates felt that such a sad state-of-affairs was not helpful to the industry’s cause, and more so the thousands of sugar workers.
Delegates pointed to the massive loss of jobs in the sugar industry and elsewhere, where thousands of persons, in the last few years, joined the ranks of the unemployed. The contracting economic situation did not give delegates great hope that brighter days are ahead, as concerns were expressed about the massive declines in the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, as well as the substantial borrowing by the Administration. The Conference, in reviewing the work of the Union since our last Congress, received the Report of the General Council, which was presented by our General Secretary Seepaul Narine. Several matters of concern were considered at the international, local and workplace levels. At the international level, delegates also expressed their apprehensions about the possibility of a new world war, and were upset to note the heightening global inequality, increasing impoverishment, and the swelling of the global army of the unemployed. Locally, delegates reflected on
The Conference also passed unanimous resolutions on the situation in the sugar industry; on the cost-of-living; in solidarity with the jobless sugar workers; on respect for the Constitution, and for a pay rise for sugar workers. The convening of the Area Conference is a requirement of the Union’s Constitution, which mandates the organizing of two (2) Conferences between the Union’s Congresses. Our last Congress – the 21st – was held in August, 2016, and the Demerara Area Conference was held in June, 2018.
PAGE SEVEN
GAWU’s 30-year struggle for recognition - a proud chapter of Guyana’s rich Trade Union history
Representatives of GAWU and the Sugar Planters Assocation signing the Recognition Agreement on February 27, 1976
Protesting the closure of East Demerara Estate in 2017.
This year (2019), as our country, and more so our working-class, observes the centennial anniversary of Trade Unionism, the GAWU marks the 43rd year since it became the bargaining agent on behalf of the field and factory workers in the sugar industry. The Union holds that the 30-year struggle for the recognition of GAWU is one of the proud and notable chapters of our working-people, and is yet another highlight moment in the 100 years of Trade Unionism in Guyana. The sugar industry has been described as a pole of exploitation and hardship. It emerged and advanced in the context of forced labour first under the wretched system of slavery, and later the equally abominable system of indentureship. The nearly 400-year-old industry, the longest-existing economic activity in our country in the context of its development, saw the workers rising up on several occasions, to challenge their grave living and working-conditions. History has recorded a number rebellions and uprisings by the slaves, and later the indentured sugar workers. It was therefore a momentous achievement in 1939 when the Man Power Citizens’ Association (MPCA) was accorded union recognition on behalf of the then colony’s sugar workers. The MPCA provided, for the first time, organised leadership for the sugar workers. Given the circumstances of the MPCA’s recognition and the ignoble conditions of work and life of the sugar workers, naturally, there were high expectations that the workers’ lot would have improved, expectedly by leaps and bounds. A young Dr Cheddi Jagan’s entry into politics in the early-1940s found him coming into regular contact with sugar workers. Those
– saw the need for a political organisation to represent the interests of the working-class, and decided to establish the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) in November, 1946. The PAC, as it pursued its mandate, continued Cheddi’s interaction with sugar workers, who appealed to the Committee for assistance as they were being crushed by the arduous living and working-conditions. The workers, at that time, were most disillusioned with the MPCA and the smaller British Guiana Workers’ League (BGWL), which were offering no fight to the SPA.
interactions must have been revealing for him, as he learnt that life on the plantation essentially remained the same, if not worse, since he himself had resided on the sugar plantation. Those interactions led him in 1945 to join the MPCA, and in a short time he became that Union’s Treasurer. During his stint in the MPCA, Dr Jagan objected to the tendency of union leaders to collaborate with the sugar planters, and openly voiced the opinion that the union leaders were not interested in properly representing the interests of the workers. He tried to encourage the MPCA leadership to change its pro-employer attitude and to assist in the struggle for political change for the benefit of the workers; but when he failed to bring about this, he resigned from the union. By 1946, Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet had completely identified themselves with the working class. They were infused with new ideas stimulated by World War II. The rule of the British over its empire was being challenged, and the Indian liberation struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi had an influencing role on their world outlook. At that period, too, the Soviet Union, which had played a major role in defeating fascism during the World War, was rapidly rebuilding itself, and the Chinese revolution led by Mao Tse Tung was winning greater support all over the world. Other progressive thinkers in the labour movement and in middle class social circles were influenced by the same factors, and from time to time the Jagans exchanged ideas with them. These persons included Ashton Chase, a young lawyer, and Jocelyn Makepeace Hubbard, both of whom were very active in the trade union movement. The four (4) – Cheddi, Janet, Chase and Hubbard
The establishment of the GIWU Taking stock of the workers’ cries and protestations, Dr Jagan and Dr. Joseph P. Lachmansingh formed the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU) in 1946. Dr. Lachmansingh became the President of the new union, which was officially registered in April 1948. The aim of the GIWU was to replace the MPCA as the bargaining union to represent field and factory workers. The SPA was not yet willing to dispose of its “company-unions”, particularly the MPCA, which was helping to keep the workers under subjection. However, by 1948, the GIWU without any doubt had the support of the great majority of sugar workers throughout the country. An early highpoint in the recognition struggle occured in 1948 when workers at Non Pareil, Lusignan and Better Hope struck, opposing the imposition of the cut-and-load system. The strikers also demanded the recognition of GIWU, and protested against the miserable working and living conditions they endured. That
struggle saw the brutal death of five (5) sugar workers and injury to fourteen (14) others on June 16, 1948 at Enmore, when the colonial police opened fire on the unarmed workers. The fallen five, who have been immortalized as the Enmore Martyrs, served to awaken the consciousness of the Guyanese masses and exposed the extreme lengths the planters and the colonial masters were willing to go to preserve the status-quo. The funeral procession of the Martyrs has been described as the largest in the history of the country. Dr Jagan, in his famed autobiography The West on Trial, recorded that the deaths of the Enmore Five deeply affected him and he was overcome by emotion, and at the Martyrs gravesite committed himself silently to ending bondage of the Guyanese people. Indeed, Dr Jagan lived up to that vow, and the Enmore massacre served as the spark that ignited the struggle and march to political independence, which was attained in May, 1966. However, manifestations - and some argue manipulations on the political scene - saw by 1955 the GIWU ceasing to exist. Despite the rude-awakening and staunch challenge the GIWU posed, the MPCA remained stuck in its ways, with just crumbs, if anything, being thrown the workers’ way. Those realities led to another union – Guyana Sugar Workers Union (GSWU) – being formed in 1961. The Union was renamed the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) in 1962. The newly-founded union reinvigorated the struggle for the thousands of the then colony’s sugar workers to have a Union of their choice. Continued in next edition
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