Guyana’s sugar industry has managed its economic constraints
well–
T&T Labour Consultant
(urges GAWU to educate workers about challenges)
Georgetown, GINA, August 27, 2003
Guyana has done commendably in managing the constraints
its sugar industry is facing both at the local and international
levels. This observation was made by Trinidadian Labour Consultant
Dr. Roodal Moonilal while delivering the feature address at the
opening of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’
Union’s (GAWU) 17th Delegates Congress held at Port Mourant
over the weekend.
“If we turn our attention to the sugar industry we will
find a picture of uncertainty, global distortions and unfair trade
practices. However, while the sugar industry in Jamaica, Barbados,
Cuba suffered from downsizing and the industry in Trinidad has
been almost destroyed, the Guyanese sugar industry has managed
to face the economic challenges and keep the wolves of privatization
at the door,” he said.
According to Dr. Moonilal, who is also a Member of Parliament
in the Trinidad and Tobago legislature, with the help of the workers,
the Corporation’s economic and financial health looks positive,
especially with the innovative US$110M “investment strategies
of the corporation and the expansion of plant and equipment to
capitalize on new markets for specific product lines.”
He also commended the workers for their sterling contribution
to the corporation during the past year, which has ensured production
increases and consistent profitability for GuySuCo.
“You, the workers and the union in collaboration with the
corporation have been in the vanguard of a remarkable production
feat in 2002, where sugar production reached the startling figure
of 330,000 tonnes, the highest production levels in a quarter
of a century. You contributed in no small measure by increasing
worker productivity by over 100% over the past decade and keeping
industrial stoppages to a minimum,” he said.
Cautioning the workers about their critical role in enhancing
the local sugar industry, he said that Guyana’s sugar industry
appears to be the shining light in the Caribbean.
“You must keep this so by militant action for better working
conditions, but tempered by responsible demands for income distribution.
There will be no winners in the long run if your corporation goes
bust. While you fight, you don’t exert decisive control
over the international market place and future changes in the
trading regimes. So your strategy is to protect your gains and
make responsible overtures for future gains. Be careful of the
temptation when seeing the reflection of the bone in the water,
just as banana can split, sugar` can be bitter,” he said.
Dr. Moonilal also sits on the tribunal set up to look at the pay
dispute between Government and GuySuCo. It is with this insight
that he shed some light on workers of the sugar industry on improved
working conditions.
“Your union, the GAWU, has a challenging agenda for the
next three years. At the tribunal we demanded that sugar workers
be treated as 21st century citizens with the new requirements
and opportunities that modernity brings. This includes your need
for higher training and education for you and your children, access
to the opportunities that the information technology (IT) revolution
has brought, a healthy lifestyle, a better quality of life, security
and peace. I challenge the union to secure resources to invest
in worker education programs to uplift its membership and your
children. We must not only help to provide for the material well
being of the sugar children but we must seek to realize their
dreams,” he said.
Dr. Moonilal urged GAWU to promote over the next three years,
an aggressive education policy that will provide workers with
employment security and employability in order to keep workers
in touch with local and regional developments.
“The GAWU must increase partnership with the NGO community,
the private sector and state agencies to bring national attention
to its grievances while participating in national policymaking,
as much can be accomplished by shared responsibility and partnership,”
he said.
Commenting on the theme of the union’s Congress, the Labour
Consultant said GAWU could better promote social justice by coming
to terms with the changing realities of work and workers. The
union must also come to terms with the new characteristics of
the workforce, the changing gender composition, age profile, skill
base and preferences of new workers, he said.
“Health and safety remains an outstanding concern. Getting
the institutions working is the challenge,” he added.
TOP
Wednesday,
August 27, 2003