We are willing to work

Sep 05, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is with utmost urgency that I have to pen this letter because it is painful to know that the hundreds of Diamond Sugar Workers who were severed by the Sugar Corporation have to remain jobless or have to be content with the little that they earn in their everyday life.
Workers were promised that they would be reinstated to work with the Sugar Corporation in another ‘gang’. They were asked to renew their contracts which had been ongoing until the process was stopped. Those workers who had their contracts renewed have them as proof.
We were called for a meeting in July at Diamond Secondary School to meet with a team from the GUYSUCO Head Office. We were told that because of our severance we were no longer a part of GUYSUCO and if needed to work in the fields it would be contractual and on our own liability. GUYSUCO would not provide any medical service or transportation for us to and from work etc. Yet we are seeing ads on GUYSUCO roundup for workers to fill vacancies but Diamond workers are blacklisted. We were asked by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture to go back to work; even the Hon President mentioned it yet GUYSUCO is reluctant to let it happen.
Workers who are willing to work are ready to do so given that someone who is in high authority or someone who wishes to see the realization of the 300,000 tonne target achieved gives us an opportunity. Thank you.
D. Martin/S. Ramlagan
Cane Harvesters