Guyana

Guyanese sugar workers strike again

Workers striking for higher pay shut Guyana's sugar industry for a second full day on Wednesday (27th August), seriously threatening sugar exports to the European Union according to the government.

Labor Minister Manzoor Nadir said the government has ordered an end to the strike by about 17,000 workers, which he said could be "gravely injurious to the national interest" if it continued.

Guyana sugar workers strike

As workers at four sugar estates staged industrial action on Wednesday, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) has warned that their action has pushed back production even further and could result in a significant loss of revenue.

Workers at the La Bonne Intention (LBI), Enmore, Rose Hall and Wales sugar estates have ceased operations, even as wage negotiations between GUYSUCO and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers' Union (GAWU) take place.

Labour Rebellions of the 1930s in the British Caribbean Region Colonies - Richard Hart

A brief overview of the numerous struggles which occurred in the British Caribbean during the 1930s, which led to the introduction of many trade union rights across the region, written by Jamaican trade unionist Richard Hart.

Published in 2002 jointly by Caribbean Labour Solidarity and the Socialist History Society.

About the author

1892-1894: The prison revolt and massacre at Cayenne

A short history of the brutal repression at the Cayenne island prison camp in French Guyana. A rebellion against a prisoner's murder was followed by a massacre of anarchists by the authorities.

The Iles du Salut are situated off Cayenne, in what was French Guyana in South America. These three prison islands – of which Devil's Island is the most infamous - were reserved by the French authorities for hard cases, for repeated escapees and for political prisoners. In the course of time many anarchists were sent to these hell-holes.

Girier, Anthelme, 1869-1898

A short biography of French anarchist orator Anthelme Girier, who was imprisoned and involved in the revolt at the Iles du Salut penal colony.

Anthelme Girier
aka Jean Baptiste Lorion, born 1869 - France, died 16 November 1898 - French Guyana

Sugar workers in Guyana on strike for second day

The sugar industry is Guyana's main employer

Sugar workers in Guyana came out in thousands to demand wage increases.

The Guyana Sugar Worker's Union is demanding automatic wage increases for sugar workers to compensate for the introduction of a 16% value added tax starting in the new year. Around 14,000 Workers from sugar cane fields and factories, had their second day of strikes on Wednesday, and belong to the country's most powerful labour union.

Roussenq, Paul, 1885-1949

A short biography of French anarchist Paul Roussenq, who spent much of his life in prison camps.

Paul Roussenq
Born 1885 - France, died August 1949 - France

The jailbird of Saint Gilles

Suicide for Socialism? - Brinton on the Jonestown massacre, 1978

Maurice Brinton's analysis of the bizarre mass suicide of a socialist cult led by American Jim Jones in Jonestown, Guyana. Discusses political sects in general.

'We're gonna die for the revolution. We're gonna die to expose this racist and fascist society.