Sugar industry has managed its economic constraints well- T&T Labour Consultant
... urges GAWU to educate workers about challenges
Guyana Chronicle
August 28, 2003
GINA- Trinidadian Labour Consultant Dr. Roodal Moonilal has remarked that Guyana has done commendably in managing the constraints its sugar industry is facing both at the local and international levels.
He made the observation 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 last 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.