Dear Editor,
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken note of a social media post appearing on the Team Mohamed’s page over the weekend regarding certain developments in the sugar industry. That post was made on behalf of the opposition political outfit We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).
According to the post, some 60 workers of Uitvlugt Estate have not been paid for the past three (3) months. This is certainly news to us, as no worker, much less sixty, within the Union’s bargaining units within the sugar industry has indicated that they were not paid for any period. Had such concerns really existed, the Union would have long represented these workers. We must caution that we are unable to offer any comment for sugar workers not within the Union’s bargaining unit.
Regarding the senior staffers, apart from the section of this category of workers represented by the Union, we cannot shed any light on the contentions advanced. We must, however, highlight that the senior staffers under our Union’s umbrella have not had any reduction of their earnings or conditions.
We are unaware that sugar workers were misled or taken advantage of regarding wage adjustments. The quantum of pay rises for sugar workers were known as far back as 2024 when the Union and the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) signed a three-(3)-year wage/salary pact. That agreement provided for pay rises for 2024, 2025 and 2026. Therefore, we are at a loss to see where workers were misled, but such disingenuity emanating from the political grouping is not surprising.
Our Union’s President, Mr Seepaul Narine, is charged with not representing GAWU members in the sugar industry. As we have pointed out, that is precisely what Mr Narine and the Union have been doing. We do not need any advice from the WIN and its players on how we should pursue our work. The party highlights the disciplinary actions taken by the Union against two (2) Uitvlugt Estate workers. We wish to clarify that the actions taken by the Union are consistent with its Constitution and were carried out in accordance with due process. Furthermore, we do not comment on internal matters in public.
We urge the WIN and its officials not to engage in desperate acts of deception and obfuscation. The GAWU remains proud of its effort to protect union members and advance their rights and conditions. We cannot fail to note that, as the WIN feigns concern for sugar workers, in its midst are several personalities who stood silently and, from all impressions, supported the closure of estates and the sending onto the breadline of thousands of sugar workers. The contradiction is evident, and the crocodile tears are visible.
Yours truly
Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
