Police called in at sugar factory

POLICE Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) officers were called out yesterday to keep watch at the Ste Madeleine Sugar Factory when the Sugar Manufacturing Company Ltd (SMCL) brought in “scab” labour in an attempt to restart the factory and replace the services of striking workers. Together with regular policemen, the armed GEB officers kept vigil all day yesterday as word spread that thousands of cane farmers whose cane was reportedly rotting outside the factory since the protest action started last Thursday, planned to join the workers on the company’s compound.

The protest by the factory’s pan boilers, electricians, mechanics and labourers for more wages, have effectively shut down operations at the factory. Yesterday, the workers numbering 50, all of whom are former Caroni (1975) employees, continued occupation of a part of the compound outside the factory. They are seeking $2.5 million increase in wages. Yesterday, the company hired 40 persons and attempted to restart the factory. This was confirmed to Newsday by an SMCL’s official who said that the first step was “lighting” the pan boilers.

As the GEB cops milled around the factory, soldiers on the tray of a Trinidad and Tobago Regiment truck, patrolled the area. The army has established a makeshift camp at the company’s former sports club a short distance from the factory. The workers described the attempt to start the factory with “inexperienced scab labour” as risky and dangerous. The workers will continue their protest this morning and will be joined by cane farmers. The Trinidad Islandwide Cane Farmers’ Association met yesterday in an emergency meeting and took a decision to call on Government to pay off 6,000 cane farmers and “bring an end to the farmers’ woes.”