GAWU President, Komal Chand address to FITUG May Day Rally 2007

Cde Chairman, Executive Members of FITUG Friends and Comrades On behalf of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) I take the opportunity to express warm and sincere May Day greetings to all workers of our country. I also wish to express my union’s appreciation that this May Day is celebrated here under the banner of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) with the full participation of its affiliates – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). May Day 2007 is indeed historic, it marks FITUG’s first May Day Rally since 1989. May this demonstration of unity continue in the coming years. May this unity of action consolidate and expand in the future.

We are celebrating May Day following two landmark national events the hosting of the Rio Summit attended by Heads and Leaders of Latin American Governments and the Cricket World Cup 2007 Super Eight Matches. And, the month May, apart from May Day, will see another important national event – observance of Arrival Day which marks 169 years since Indians landed to work in the sugar industry and which will be marked this Saturday, May 5th. Those indentured, like the slaves endured a hard life, great sufferings and deprivation in the plantation to make a fortune for the plantocracy under colonial rule. But, their descendants and off-springs struggled for independence and worked to ensure development of our country and improvement of their lives. That struggle and work continues today. We are now observing activities to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the African Slave Trade. History reminds us of that sordid event which tells of millions of Africans who perished along the way in the countless journeys made by European Slave-Traders bringing captive slaves to the Americas and the Caribbean. NOTICE how linked our major ethnic groups are through the common suffering of slavery and indentureship in the pursuit of sugar production and profits. Then on May 26th we reflect on forty-one (41) years of political Independence from Britain. Again we take stock of our national achievements, well being and challenges. Comrades, May Day is a day dedicated to the workers of the world. And, yearly we in Guyana have celebrated this day. However, it is also a time to reflect on our past as well as present both nationally and internationally.

Comrades, the world situation is grave. Our world today is marked by many dangers, wars continue unabatedly in the Middle East, destroying cities and it is estimated that approximately (1) million persons, men, women and children have been killed in Iraq alone not counting Afghanistan or Palestine. Now it has begun in Somalia. Whilst our fellow workers and their children are mercilessly slaughtered in several countries, corporations are making millions from these deaths and destruction. And even as we meet here, Iran and some Middle East countries face the threat of military invasion. The workers of Guyana, indeed, the workers of the world cannot be silent in the face of such slaughter, crimes and destruction. We condemn these imperialist wars, we say: STOP THE WARS NOW. STOP THE THREAT OF WARS NOW. We are for PEACE and JUSTICE! We give our solidarity to all who suffer from wars, occupation and invasion.

In this context, we as workers must be concerned by the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Today, many countries have acquired the capability of making these dangerous and deadly weapons. This has been as a result of the policies conducted by the powerful western alliance. Several nations now see the acquisition of such weapons as a deterrent to war and invasion. But in the end, their proliferation can only endanger the world and civilization. The actions of, primarily the US and Britain, is driving countries in this direction. IRAQ is a prime example for all to see. Another concern of our day is the move by the United States to establish an anti-missile system in Europe which Russia views as a credible threat. The US justification to this is clearly unfounded. The motive is clearly sinister and it can only serve to fuel a competition that will endanger Europe and the world further. Clearly, the powers that be must stop the hypocrisy. Security has to be mutual and what we should demand is the total destruction of all nuclear weapons.

It is this same attitude that brings into question the talk about fighting the war on terror. The US has recently placed on bail a widely known terrorist – Luis Posada Carriles – who escaped from a Venezuelan prison and was awaiting trial for bombing of Cubana Airlines in which eleven Guyanese among seventy-three persons perished thirty years ago in Barbados. This act is a sharp contrast to the treatment for example meted out to the Palestinians. Israeli’s occupation of Palestinian land and atrocities against the Palestinian people are defended. However, the actions of the Palestinians in protecting their rightful land are labeled terrorism. One standard is used for the Palestinian people another standard applied to the terrorist Posada Carriles and the Israelis. Comrades, we must be fair and even handed. We stand opposed to terrorism whether it comes from an individual, group or state. We must not allow it to be used as a pretext for perpetual wars against peoples as is being done today.

Allow me comrades to also refer to another issue that is of grave concern to working people worldwide. This is the dangers posed to the world and its peoples as a result of environmental damage. Scientists are convinced that the actions of corporation of mainly of the most developed countries are causing great harm to our environment. The situation is urgent. We see it from the erratic climate nowadays, in storms, bigger and more frequent hurricanes, floods, melting of the ice and the rising of the water levels in oceans. Some islands have already sunk. The world as we know it today is seriously threatened; we must demand meaningful action now from those who are driving us to disaster. The drive for profits continues to chase multi-nationals to mine more minerals, to try to control energy resources and to do more harm to countries’ environment. Only recently, pressures from powerful western governments forced a change to the reports on the environmental damages and its consequences. We must join with all those struggling to preserve our environment, to halt this mad, headlong rush for exploitation of countries resources at the expense of their environment. Let us demand that all nations sign the Kyoto Protocol and work for sustained development in opposition to environmental disaster.

Comrades and friends, while there are dangers, there are positive developments too. Several countries are courageously taking back their sovereignty and charting a course, to erase poverty, taking greater control of their resources and asserting their dignity. Venezuela and Bolivia are playing leading roles in this continent. Deep and forward-looking changes are underway in our region. The poor and oppressed are once again holding their heads high as a new dawn is breaking for them. We must follow the process closely and above all, we workers of Guyana must be ready to extend solidarity to the working people, their leaders and governments against those who are seeking to destabilize and disrupt the positive processes. On this May Day let World Peace and Solidarity be our Watchwords! Let us be ready to show our active support for peace in the world, for an end to all unjust wars, for saving mankind from environmental destruction and demonstrating our solidarity with all workers and oppressed people throughout the world.

The Local Situation

Comrades, we face many challenges today locally despite the strides and achievements we have made. To face up to those challenges FITUG unions believe that through better interactions, solidarity actions towards promoting members’ welfare and greater camaraderie at its leadership and membership levels much can be achieved not only for our members but for our people generally. Indeed we have our sights on a peaceful society where everyone has a right to share in the resources of the land and to live a happy and full life. We are convinced that FITUG can play a historical role in our country to bring about its accelerated development. We in FITUG Unions are prepared to pursue such objectives. Comrades, we are not pleased with the services from some of our utilities – electricity, water supply, communication, etc though we recognize some improvements and the efforts at improvements. Some years ago there was an attempt to privatize our electricity service. In a short period under the management and majority ownership of a foreign company the electricity service in our country significantly deteriorated while at the same time the cost of electricity significantly increased. Against such a backdrop we are, therefore, concerned when it was stated that the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) is to be reformed by re-privatization. We understand that a strategy is in place for reforming the power company so that at the end of five years the company should become profitable and therefore ready for private investment. This re-privatization move should be carefully and seriously considered as it may be to the detriment of the working people. Do we really need to privatize a sound business? Do we really need to surrender state ownership of this important utility service?

We in GAWU have serious questions about this and are not supportive of any move which would see the Guyana Power and Light Inc in the hands of the private sector once again. We have had terrible experiences when the power company was privately owned in its early years and again in the period 1999-2003 when the Company was divested into the hands of a UK-based consortium comprising the Electricity Supply Board International (ESBI) and the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC). We also have our experience with the private Management Company – Severn Trent Water Incorporated (SWTI). An audit into the Company’s performance which managed the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) for over four (4) years showed the Company’s performance was miserable. Consequently that Company’s contract was recently terminated. The experiences of private ownership of both utilities do not make us confident with privatization and, as workers we are additionally concerned that privatization, almost always comes with increasing rates.

Crime

Guyana, in common with the larger Caribbean territories, is victim to the enterprise of deviant criminal behavior – gun crimes, assaults, murder and increased abuses of women and children. Again GAWU would like to see the involvement and more support from communities in collaborating with the police to quell this ongoing situation. FITUG unions must also engage the Police on this issue of crime, crime prevention and detection. We are all involved – most obviously. No representative organisation worth its salt should sit idly by when women, children, employees, the needy and homeless, the sick and the minorities are either exploited or abused and injured.

Sugar Industry

Comrades, our sugar industry still remains the lynchpin of our country’s economy after forty (40) years of Independence. The thirty-six (36) per cent price cut which will be implemented in four phases and which commenced last July is indeed a heavy blow to the coffers of the Industry. We believe the Strategic Plan of the Corporation addresses the measures which if successfully implemented would enable the industry to overcome the challenges. We support therefore:- 1. The Skeldon Sugar Modernization Programme which includes:- a) A new Sugar Factory capable of producing 110,000 tonnes sugar annually at about US 9 cents per pound. b) The production of thirty (30) megawatts of electricity of which at least ten (10) megawatts would be available to the National Grid c) The expansion of cultivable land by 8,000 hectares to ensure an adequate supply of canes to the new factory The other sections of the Strategic Plan includes:- 1. Value Added Sugar 2. Ethanol Production 3. The establishment of a distillery in Berbice 4. The establishment of a Refinery at Skeldon We are pleased that the recent support of US$7M by the European Union following its unconscionable price cut measures, would enhance Guysuco’s value added sugar drive. It is expected that future support by the European Union will be fully placed at the Corporation’s disposal towards assisting the sugar industry to enhance its viablity.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

The implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) did not come without misgivings and complaints. Some are still heard. It was meant to replace Consumption Tax, Travel Voucher Tax, Service Tax, Premium Tax, Hotel Accommodation Tax, Entertainment Tax, Purchase Tax and Telephone Tax we hope that indeed it would turnout to be a more equitable tax measure. The intention of the 16 per cent rate of VAT is to ensure the new tax measure does not garner greater revenue than did the eight taxes it replaced. The government efforts to address the teething problems and initial confusion helped but these are yet to be totally resolved. However, should it turn out that VAT accumulated a surplus then by all means the Authority should adjust the income tax threshold to provide greater tax relief to employees from next year.

Comrades, our local situation requires much to be done. There has been steady progress we have seen several good changes for our well-being and as we enjoy these changes at the same time we must attend to the other needs and demands. These will require a collaborative approach. There is the question of unemployment, putting our economy on a firmer and sustainable footing, better and decent wages for our working people, further reduction of poverty, addressing critical infrastructural workers, improvement of services and so on. As Guyanese, we must also take a serious interest in governance issues. At this time we should focus on local government which is critical to improving our villages and communities. Elections we are told are up-coming. Workers must be involved in running their affairs at all levels – from Parliament to NDC’s. And, as always we need to pay special attention to the question of unity, to collaborate and utilize our collective energies towards Guyana’s development and social progress.

At the international and regional levels, we should not forget the peoples struggles in Haiti, the process in Venezeula, the plight of the peoples in the Middle East and Africa, the poverty, exploitation and oppression in much of the developing world and peoples struggles which need our support. As always on May Day, we cannot forget to send special greetings and solidarity to the people and government of Cuba. To the workers and oppressed of the world we send our greetings and solidarity. The GAWU wishes to repeat the call on this May Day: Working People of Guyana and Workers of the World Unite! Working People of Guyana and Workers of the World let us struggle for a better, just and peaceful world.

Long Live May Day 2007
Long Live the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)
Long Live the Working Class
Long Live Proletarian Internationalism