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Sugar and the anti-colonial struggle Aug 26, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, As sugar fades and its subsidy challenged, it is useful to remember that during colonialism, the colonial state and the plantocracy were coterminous and the struggle by the indentureds on the plantations for justice was a struggle against the colonial state writ large. The Royal Commissions sent down to inquire into the “coolie riots” and police killings invariably led to state initiatives that  broadened the freedoms of all citizens. The Moyne Commission that recommended the universal franchise was in Guyana when four workers were killed during protests at Leonora in 1939. September 30 will be the anniversary of the inaugural killing of protesting “coolies”: five indentured sugar workers killed and seven wounded at Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast in 1872. This exacerbated the already strained relations between newly freed enslaved African and Indian indentureds, since the Police Force – the coercive arm of the state – was deliberately overwhelmingly African-manned by the state. In addition to the killings after reading the “Riot Act”, there were other daily humiliations inflicted on the immigrants. Police Force historian John Campbell, noted: “Police were employed to levy rents and to act as bailiffs (and) East Indians quite rightly viewed the police as agents or allies of their oppressors”. Chief Justice Beaumont noted police harassment of Indians in the 1870’s as “galling subjection”. Since any protest of their working conditions on the plantations could be defined as an “overt rebellion”, and result in lengthening of their indentureship term, immigrants did not lightly embark into such actions. Yet, since they did protest, one could only imagine the provocations. The overall dire conditions on the plantations by 1870 can be gleaned by the bare population statistics. Of the 69,380 Indian indentureds arriving by 1869, 6,523 had returned to India but only 44,936 showed up in the census. It meant if not a single birth occurred, 17,921 or 26% had died. The precursor to Devonshire Castle occurred in July of 1869, when forty workers of the shovel gang at Plantation Leonora disputed the wages for work done and allegedly “assaulted” a manager. The response was swift: the police and the 2nd West India Regiment were called in. After the “Leonora Riot”, the Guiana Police Force became “the most heavily armed Police in the British West Indies,” according to Adamson. Even though no one was killed, the protesting workers were arrested, convicted and jailed in short order. The system had begun to perform a “one-two” – first the Police would use violence to maintain “order” and then the judiciary would emphasise the condign lesson to the immigrant by applying the “law”, where any claimed non-performance or underperformance of their tasks – civil violations – earned criminal penalties of jail terms and onerous fines. The 1869 Leonora protests precipitated a Royal Commission but not any changes on the unbalanced police-immigrant equation, which inflicted violence to “keep the Indian in his place”. The underlying cause at Devonshire Castle was the mistrust of the Indians for the judicial system. On Sept 29, one Parag had been arrested for “assaulting” a Manager at Devonshire Castle, but was rescued from confinement. He cross-charged the Manager. The next day Parag refused to appear at the Magistrate Court where the accused as a Manager would have been allowed to sit beside the Magistrate. Instead he, along with 250 other immigrants, appeared at the Estate and prevented the Manager or anyone else from entering. One wonders if he was an ancestor of Minister Sonia Parag. Twenty-three armed Policemen and the Magistrate appeared and the latter ordered the Policemen to load their rifles. The Police were then ordered to charge – the immigrants stood their ground and one policeman (Archer) discharged a shot. The other Policemen thought the order to shoot had been given and nine other Policemen fired, killing five workers, and wounding seven others. It is noteworthy that thirteen policemen, including the two Indian ones, did not shoot. At the Inquest, the Policemen’s actions were exonerated as “justifiable homicide”. The Colonist, a paper friendly to planter interests, exulted, “the leaden argument has brought submission quicker than all honeyed words that could have been used.” The “leaden argument” from the Police guns was to be made with terrifying regularity against Indian Guyanese sugar workers from then – 1896: Non Pareil; 1903: Friends; 1912: Lusignan; 1913: Rose Hall; 1924: Ruimveldt; 1939: Leonora; until 1948: Enmore. They were just “coolies” but their courage challenged the state and delivered independence. Leave sugar workers with some dignity. Sincerely,Ravi Dev Related Similar Articles

Two incidents where heartbreaks could have been avoided Aug 26, 2024 Letters Dear Editor It has to be wondered, the male nurse, recovering from dengue fever, who had other underlying health conditions, was allowed to return to field work so soon.  Surely his physical and physiological conditions were not properly healed and repaired to withstand the strenuousness and demand of field work. It has to be seen as a foolhardy decision. My condolences to the family and colleagues. In another matter: a private vehicle, plying the taxi trade, was involved recently in an accident with another vehicle at the UG turn off road.  The private vehicle had passengers who were injured.  Now it is apparent why travelling in a private vehicle plying the taxi trade is detrimental and at your own risk? Besides breaking the law these illegal operators charge the same fare, and sometimes more, as the legal operators. It is simple, even if you’re on a side hustle, do it right…get so licensed and registered. Both incidents underscore poor decisions and heartaches could have been avoided if the time was taken to do otherwise. SincerelyShamshun Mohamed Related Similar Articles

Time to rethink our position on marijuana Aug 26, 2024 Letters Dear Editor The world is changing and it is changing very fast due to several factors such as climate change, artifical intelligence, improved technologies, social media platforms, wars and even in terms of what was not acceptable as legal, customs and norms. One such global perspective is that on “marijuana” which has shifted dramatically and rightfully so in recent years, moving from strict prohibition to varying degrees of legalization and acceptance. The recent discovery and destruction of $2.5 billion dollars worth of marijuana, 89000 plus cannabis plants in region ten, up the Berbice River in the community of De Veldt, brings into key focuss the need for more progressive reform in relation to marijuana. Countries like the Netherlands (Amsterdam), the United States, Antigua, and Jamaica to name a few, have all witnessed significant economic benefits following the legalization, cultivation and sale of marijuana. Drawing on the experiences of these countries, Guyana will not only learn but equally tap into the high potential economic gains and its spin off benefits once it moves away from its present backwardness when it comes to this economic/money crop.  A crop that can actually give the country economic benefits rather than take it as seen with sugarcane/ GuySuCo. One of the most immediate benefits observed in countries that have legalized marijuana is a substantial increase in their government’s revenue through taxation.   For example, in the United States, states like Colorado and California have generated billions of dollars in tax revenue from marijuana sales. In Colorado, marijuana tax revenues surpassed $US 387 million in 2020, in 2024 to date, that state has gained $US 2,769,062,068 dollars. Can you imagine what such funds can do for our people, our teachers and public servants? If Guyana could implement a similar taxation framework, providing a new and significant source of income for the government. These funds could be reinvested into public services such as healthcare, education, sports, and infrastructure, fostering overall societal benefits and growth, helping us to be less dependent on the oil and gas sector. The legalization and cultivation of marijuana have the potential to create numerous jobs across various sectors, including agriculture, health, retail, distribution, and regulatory agencies.   In the Netherlands and more specific Amsterdam, which is renowned for its marijuana/cannabis coffee shops, and have created permanent employment for thousands of individuals and have attracted millions of tourists annually, significantly boosting their local economy . Similarly, Jamaica has capitalized on its cultural association with marijuana, integrating it into its tourism industry. Tourists flock to these destinations for the unique experience of legally purchasing and consuming marijuana in a regulated environment. Guyana, equally with its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, could develop a merger of its eco/ cannabis tourism sector that will not only create thousands of jobs but attract millions of international visitors annually, boosting local businesses and generating additional revenue. Additionally, Guyana’s agricultural sector stands to benefit significantly from the cultivation of marijuana. Our country’s favorable climate and fertile soil provide the ideal conditions for growing high-quality cannabis. By investing in this potential sector, Guyana can diversify its agricultural portfolio, reducing its dependency on traditional crops.  Antigua, for example, the size of several of our combined “sugar and rice plantations”, has shown how small island nations can benefit from marijuana cultivation; its government legalized marijuana for medicinal and sacramental use in 2018, promoting local agriculture and reducing imports . A similar approach in Guyana could enhance food security and stimulate rural development. Additionally, the medicinal benefits of marijuana are well-documented, with applications in pain management, epilepsy treatment, and alleviation of symptoms associated with chronic illnesses. The United States has seen a burgeoning medical marijuana industry, with states like California and Florida leading in research and development. Jamaica has also invested in medical marijuana, establishing itself as a leader in cannabis research in the region and further afield. Guyana equally could develop its own medical marijuana industry, potentially becoming a hub or the epicenter for research and development in the Caribbean and South America. This will, if done, attract investment, create high-paying jobs, and improve healthcare outcomes for our citizens and visitors who come to our country. Further, I am very much cognizant of the negative views some have to such a progressive stance and those views were also shared in those very countries whose critics are now enjoying and partaking in the benefits of such a progressive move.  It is interesting to note, that Amsterdam’s model of regulated cannabis coffee shops, provides a balanced approach to legalisation. The city has managed to control the sale and consumption of marijuana effectively, reducing black market activities while boosting tourism and local businesses. Guyana could adopt a similar model and adjust to suit our cultural and social reality, ensuring that marijuana is sold and consumed in controlled environments to maintain public safety and order. The state-by-state legalisation in the U.S. offers diverse lessons. States like Colorado and Washington have demonstrated how a well-regulated market can generate substantial tax revenue and reduce criminal justice costs. Our country can learn from these regulatory frameworks to establish our own robust legal and economic structures. In Antigua and Barbuda the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and sacramental use, focusing on the benefits for local agriculture and healthcare is reaping benefits. By promoting local cultivation, Antigua has provided economic opportunities for farmers and reduced its reliance on imported medical cannabis. Similarly Guyana can equally leverage its agricultural strengths similarly by developing a self-sustaining marijuana industry. The capacity and the willingness is most certainly in existence. Finally, the establishment of a Cannabis Licensing Authority involving in a prominent way our rasta brothers and sisters who have been the sacrificial lamb towards the injustice of police brutality and incarceration for its use, to lead the regulatory body, to oversee its marijuana industry, ensuring compliance and maximizing economic benefits to those involved and the government. Yours respectfully,Hon. Jermaine Figueira MP JP Related Similar Articles

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