The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) says it is reflecting on five decades of representation in Guyana’s sugar industry, marking the milestone with an anniversary observance detailed in a release issued by the union.
According to GAWU, the March 26 event commemorated the 50th anniversary of its recognition in the sugar sector and brought together government officials, trade union leaders and international representatives under the theme “Born of Struggle, Built for Success.”
Delivering the feature address, President Irfaan Ali said the union’s contribution is integral to Guyana’s national development, noting that any comprehensive account of the country’s history would be incomplete without recognising GAWU’s role.
He also pointed to the credibility and respect the union has earned nationwide, while addressing challenges faced by sugar workers between 2015 and 2020, when several estates were closed, displacing approximately 7,000 workers.
The President said that period was marked by wage stagnation and an erosion of workers’ rights and dignity, adding that his administration has since made significant investments to revitalise the industry and support affected workers. He further urged vigilance against misinformation that could distort recent history.
GAWU President Seepaul Narine, as outlined in the union’s release, traced the organisation’s origins to the Guiana Industrial Workers Union (GIWU), established in 1946, describing its evolution as one shaped by struggle, perseverance and progress.
He paid tribute to former presidents Boysie Ramkarran, Albert Budhoo, Jankie Persaud and Komal Chand, and also acknowledged the contributions of Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan in advancing workers’ rights.
International representatives also addressed the gathering, including Kristijan Bragason, General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF), who said such milestones reflect sustained commitment and leadership.
Clifton Grant, IUF Caribbean Regional Secretary, highlighted the longstanding relationship between GAWU and Jamaica’s University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU), pointing to their history of collaboration.
Messages of solidarity were also delivered by local trade union leaders, including Carvil Duncan of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU); Dawchan Nagasar of FITUG and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE); Sherwood Clarke of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU); as well as Nadia Lambert and Shakeida Williams representing IUF committees.
GAWU said the anniversary observance served as both a reflection on its history and a reaffirmation of its mission, providing a platform to honour its past while charting a forward-looking path grounded in unity, struggle and progress.
