"Nine sugar workers arrested
as protest continues in Berbice"

By Melissa Johnson (Kaieteur News, Thursday, April 17)

BETSY GROUND, EAST CANJE - Workers, attached to the Rose Hall and Providence Estates of the Guyana Sugar Corporation have vowed to continue their protest actions for the rest of the week. Nine were arrested by the police in Berbice yesterday morning during what the police said was an unlawful procession conducted by about 150 residents mainly from Canje, Berbice.

The protest march, for which no permission was given, commenced at about 05:30hours from Betsy Ground, Canje, then proceeded out to the main public road. The police eventually stopped the protesters at Adelphi where the information that the procession was unlawful and that the protesters should desist and disperse was forwarded.

However, the protesters refused and proceeded to block the roadw1ay, preventing vehicles from passing. They also began to make abusive remarks to the police ranks, according to a police release. They also threw a number of obstacles including parts of derelict vehicles along the roadway, the police said. These were removed by the police.

The protestors had allegedly placed old cars, coconut tree stumps and other such items across the roadway. The ranks subsequently cleared the debris. According to the official, these persons were blocking the road at six points. “We had this li’l protest and they pick up some of them boy. Was about 20 something of we and is only them they pick up. They (police) beat up one of them boys because he ask them why them carrying down (arresting) he brother. They fire shots in the air and them boys run,” one of the protestors said.

By mid-morning some of the protestors had moved to the Reliance Police Station to show solidarity for their arrested colleagues. A senior police officer in Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force explained that after pleading with the crowd to disperse to no avail, ranks arrested the leader of the pack at the Adelphi location where the protesters had gathered.

The official claimed that he was not aware of any protestor being beaten by ranks but recalled that one of the demonstrators assaulted a rank and after being restrained was taken into custody. According to him, police ranks used minimal force on the demonstrators. A man complained that he was beaten and that report is being investigated, the official added. The source was not aware of any shots being discharged. The protesters, who are mainly cane harvesters, agronomy hands and day hands, have since said that they will stand their ground and would not return to work until Government addresses the issue.

On Tuesday, the same categories of workers took to the streets to register their frustration at high survival cost.
Yesterday, they continued in the same vein, this time placing more debris at strategic points along the roadway between Rose Hall Village and Gangaram. They came from Rose Hall Village, Betsy Ground, Reliance, Goed Bananen Land, Adelphi and Gangaram, among other areas. The workers assembled at the Adelphi Bridge to commence their action at 06:00 hours. According to some of the workers, the group was making its way to Rose Hall Village when police stopped them.

“The government promised to put us good but they ain’t do nothing.” The group called for intervention from no lesser person. “We want (President) Jagdeo! We ain’t want no Minister! We want the President and (Prime Minister) Sam Hinds to come. All the Ministers come here before and fool we.

“The President himself come here and fool we.”

Those from the Providence location marched from Tacama Turn, on the outskirts of New Amsterdam, to Freedom House at Charlotte Street. This set of demonstrators sought authorization, on Tuesday, from the Guyana Police Force to carry out their protest action up to Friday. The police said there is no problem with persons wanting to protest but this must be done in a lawful manner. The request for approval must state inter alia the route and time.

During the PNC era, when sugar workers wanted to publicly protest, did they have to wait for police permission?

And would the PPP government allow the police to grant them a protest permit?

The last thing this insecure government wants is for a protest among its constituency to spread like a wild fire!


Could these protests be part of a retaliation move for Jagdeo ordering a probe of GUYSUCO?

Originally posted by Communicator:

“The President himself come here and fool we.”

[/QUOTE]


This is a comment I am hearing very often...from the sugar workers who comprise the backbone of the PPP...Jagdeo is tampering with a force that he will not be able to control or fool again.....

quote:

Originally posted by Churchill:
Originally posted by Communicator:

“The President himself come here and fool we.”

This is a comment I am hearing very often...from the sugar workers who comprise the backbone of the PPP...Jagdeo is tampering with a force that he will not be able to control or fool again.....[/QUOTE]

Is GAWU still around?

quote:

Originally posted by Churchill:
Originally posted by Communicator:

“The President himself come here and fool we.”

This is a comment I am hearing very often...from the sugar workers who comprise the backbone of the PPP...Jagdeo is tampering with a force that he will not be able to control or fool again.....[/QUOTE]


This is a sign of what's gone so wrong with the PPP rule. The Sugar workers had formed the core of the PPP resistance against the PNC. Now they find themselves in the same position with the PPP. I have stated many times, the PPP has abandoned it's moral imperatives infavor of an elitist and neglectful class. There is no sense of nationhood, just self preservation and survival. This is what you get when a Commie tries to masquarade as a democratic leader, they are somewhere lost between their ideals and space. I know some of you PPPites dont like when I say this, but the PPP is much further removed from the reality of the lives of the poor than the PNC had ever been. It's a great pity the PNC choose to incite their constituency against Indians in general instead of inciting them to do what the Sugar workers are doing. Today you would have seen an allegiance of the sufering masses against a neglectful elitist rule as opposed to the current 3-way confrontation we are now seeing. The PPP can only use fear of the PNC to hold onto their constituance. They have, in many ways, become like the PNC. Sorry Nehru and Rama, the facts are in your face.

quote:

Originally posted by baseman:

quote:

Originally posted by Churchill:
Originally posted by Communicator:

“The President himself come here and fool we.”

This is a comment I am hearing very often...from the sugar workers who comprise the backbone of the PPP...Jagdeo is tampering with a force that he will not be able to control or fool again.....

This is a sign of what's gone so wrong with the PPP rule. The Sugar workers had formed the core of the PPP resistance against the PNC. Now they find themselves in the same position with the PPP. I have stated many times, the PPP has abandoned it's moral imperatives infavor of an elitist and neglectful class. There is no sense of nationhood, just self preservation and survival. This is what you get when a Commie tries to masquarade as a democratic leader, they are somewhere lost between their ideals and space. I know some of you PPPites dont like when I say this, but the PPP is much further removed from the reality of the lives of the poor than the PNC had ever been. It's a great pity the PNC choose to incite their constituency against Indians in general instead of inciting them to do what the Sugar workers are doing. Today you would have seen an allegiance of the sufering masses against a neglectful elitist rule as opposed to the current 3-way confrontation we are now seeing. The PPP can only use fear of the PNC to hold onto their constituance. They have, in many ways, become like the PNC. Sorry Nehru and Rama, the facts are in your face.[/QUOTE]

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Baseman Rama getting LowLOW and he dont care...

Rama your true colors showing now, You are a Total Disapointment like Jagdeo..... and Like Jagdeo you raising up your skirt and expose your duty-tear-up-panty when face with the facts.This exposing your lack of Balls.

Lets hope Nehru dont get LowLOW like Rama......I DOUBT IT, Nehru Different from Rama