After Caroni, we can learn from each other

THE EDITOR: The pained assessment by one Dr Tim Gopeesingh, of the circumstance of the VSEP’d Caroni workers published in your Thursday August 7 edition was poignant indeed. Caroni workers have “walked the plank,” “one sector of the population was painfully and woefully experiencing the last rites of generations,” “a major segment of the population has been thrown into hopelessness, future poverty and bondage” and so on. Dr Gopeesingh also juxtaposed his current analysis with that of “a nation joyfully celebrating Emancipation, 158 years since the abolition of slavery.” There are interesting dichotomies here. Some might call them parallels. In 2003, the Caroni workers were offered and accepted VSEP packages of varying compositions. In 1834, the plantation owners (!!!) received twenty-five pounds sterling for every slave which they “lost.” The slaves received not one red cent.

In 2003 the Caroni workers who accepted VSEP were offered parcels of leased land to enable them to become cane or food crop farmers. In 1834, the crown colony government increased the minimum parcel sizes of land to deny the slaves the opportunity to own land. In 2003, the Caroni workers were freed of any further obligation to their company. In 1834, the “freed” slaves, were required to work for six additional years as “apprentices;” no different from slavery, really save and except for a guarantee of freedom, after the further six years of plunder of their labour, whilst the Crown Colony government made arrangements for indentured labour, for the plantation class. In 2003, the Caroni workers defied their trade union, and accepted the Government’s offer in droves. In 1834, anyone thinking about forming a trade union would have been flogged to death. Those who revolted against the “period of apprenticeship” were arrested, sentenced and thrown in jail immediately. Yes, Editor, there are parallels. Dr Gopeesingh must be lauded for bringing his incisive analysis to the fore, so that we could now appreciate the plight of the VSEP’d Caroni workers.

Juxtaposed against the plight of the emancipated slave, 158 years ago, one may wonder why we celebrate Emancipation at all; particularly when we compare the terms of severance of the Caroni workers in a buoyant economy, versus the terms of severance of the slaves, in a hostile colony. In 1975, the British investors decided to pull out and leave the cane workers and farmers of South and Central, high and dry. A PNM government stepped in to save thousands of jobs and prevent a social crisis.

Today 27 years later, the PNM (only the PNM could have) had the courage to shut down Caroni, in as humane and considerate a manner as possible, accepting study after study which showed that Caroni Limited in its current mode of operation was not sustainable, and after years of vacillation by several prior governments, on this vexing issue. Clearly now, Trinidad and Tobago has come full circle. The two major ethnic sectors of our society have experienced the hardship of severance, one more so than the other. Both have had the experience of governance one longer than the other. Yet, we have endured; and we will endure. Perhaps we can now lean on each other, learn from each other and continue the process of forging a nation from many people, with shared experiences.

ETIENNE MENDEZ
Chaguanas