Cane farmers given few real opportunities

THE EDITOR: It is all very well and good for people whose future is secure to talk about workers and farmers “who if they wish, can smash all your dreams.” If you are the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Manufacturing Company of TT, you can afford dreams. The workers and farmers cannot afford the luxury of dreams; they are too busy keeping body and soul together. Their lives have been destroyed, after years of deprivation caused by the depredations of the executive management of Caroni (1975) Limited, many of whom have gone home with million-dollar VSEP packages.

Many workers who have known no other employment in their lives have been thrown on the breadline with paltry severance payments and few real opportunities to make a new start. The land distribution programme is a non-starter, the training programmes are limited and highly specialised, the severance money is running out and the SMCL is offering employment conditions which are inferior to those of Caroni (1975) Ltd. Workers take steps to improve these terms and conditions of employment and the government sends in the troops. Of course with the attitude of the police, sending in the troops is now the stock response to every situation, even where it concerns legitimate action by workers.

They were sent in to rough up the peaceful marchers against crime in Chaguanas, they were sent to intimidate the striking workers at Atlantic LNG and they were sent in to expel striking workers at SMCL. So, Mr Rambharat, have your dreams, but those workers are fighting for their lives, and at least you can depend on the forces of the State to support you. These workers have no one but themselves.

KARAN MAHABIRSINGH
Carapichaima