But the ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) denied the allegation, saying in a statement of its own that the PNC/R "is in no position to question the PPP's working-class credentials."

At issue is the police break-up of an illegal march on Tuesday morning after the 200-plus demonstrating workers expressed impatience with the pace at which GUYSUCO was addressing the installation of a chute. They claimed that the chute was feeding begasse into the factory's No. 3 boiler at a capacity that hindered their attainment of performance targets.

Reaching those targets, they said, was essential to their earning certain production incentives.

The workers had also claimed that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU) was dragging its feet on the matter. But GAWU responded that it was merely abiding by grievance procedures.

GAWU said in a statement that the workers who participated in the illegal march were responding to the agitation of elements that bring discord among sugar workers and their bargaining agents.

The PNC/R said in their statement at a news briefing yesterday it was satisfied that the workers had a genuine grievance that was not being addressed by either union or management.

"Therefore, the use of gun totting policemen to tear-gas the workers (was) clearly an effort by the PPP/C Government to break the strike." The PNC/R said it considered that action "both anti-working class and unacceptable."

Responded the PPP/C yesterday: "The Government wishes to state categorically that it has not issued any instruction or given any directive to the Police Force on how its staff should treat with the issue of demonstration by the sugar workers. The PNC seems to have forgotten its anti-working class records spanning nearly three decades; considered the blackest period of history in our country.

"From political assassination, the denial of free collective bargaining, wages imposition and wages reduction to the arrest and detention of trade union leaders in defense of workers' rights are hallmarks of a murderous regime, which now seeks to lecture us on the issue of workers' rights.