NACTA: Sugar workers will bury Panday

BASDEO PANDAY’S betrayal of the country’s sugar workers has sealed his political demise and those same workers are hopeful of brighter days under Prime Minister Patrick Manning and the People’s National Movement (PNM). These were some of the findings of the latest NACTA poll taken following Caroni (1975) Limited’s closure two weeks ago. The survey interviewed 179 sugar workers, 84 non-sugar workers who live in the sugar belt and 54 non-sugar workers who live outside of the sugar belt. The respondents pointed out that Panday’s “entry into politics was through the sugar union (All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union (ATSGWTU) and his exit is now based on the abandonment of the very workers who helped him to attain high office.” They said sugar workers never benefitted under the United National Congress (UNC) government and Panday “did virtually nothing to secure their interests not even offering them land for agriculture” but was  “only interested in the big boys in Port-of-Spain.”

According to the findings, 78 percent of the respondents either felt betrayed or disappointed that neither Panday nor ATSGWTU President-General Rudranath Indarsingh did not come to comfort or offer solidarity to them when Caroni was closed and they were receiving their VSEP cheques. Of the combined 317 workers interviewed, a whopping 81 percent said Panday “neglected the sugar workers when he was in a position to assist them” while 72 percent felt Panday and Indarsingh “should have grounded with the workers on the last day of the industry.” The workers said notwithstanding their contribution to the industry and Trinidad and Tobago, all of their leaders (including UNC MPs) deserted them in their hour of need. The ATSGWTU also came under fire, as workers noted “there was no significant additional benefits to the VSEP package after the union won the case in the Industrial Court” but there was “a complete role reversal of the union’s position on VSEP.” 

Asked if they thought Panday cared about the concerns of the sugar workers, 56 percent of all respondents said no. While 59 percent of the respondents were unsure about Manning’s sincerity towards sugar workers, “many pointed out that Manning’s package for sugar workers was still better than Panday’s in the latter’s plan to close down Caroni.” In fact, some respondents were grateful “some non-UNC politicians gave them hope and encouragement for the future.” On the issue of land distribution, the overwhelming majority of respondents believe the bulk of Caroni’s lands will go to friends and relatives of government officials and union officials instead of the workers. They are particularly fearful that Agriculture Minister John Rahael has “his eyes set” on Caroni lands and have no confidence in him restructuring Caroni or protecting its lands. Responses were mixed as to whether Manning could prevent rich land developers from making a mad dash for Caroni lands. While respondents believe the sugar industry can be successfully restructured and profitable through an infusion of Government capital, they expect “ghost towns to rise in several areas of Central and South and that more jobs will be lost when sugar workers VSEP money finish.” The sugar workers said they have lost faith in the PNM and UNC politicians and believe “there should be a third force” to represent the interests of the poor, under-represented and the working class.