The principles of the former slaves can be used to help sugar workers in Guyana.

It’s imperative for the sugar workers to come together.  

The first Village bought by the slaves 

In the year 1834 the slavery abolition act was agreed upon by the British royals. Slaves who worked for years under the harsh hands of their slave masters were freed to live under less cruel conditions. Though it would take about four years later for a “complete” physical emancipation, the then freed slaves leant the value of working together to ensure their survival.

Soon after the village system was birthed, which demanded a continued collective working among the emancipated, to build for themselves a society that would guaranteed their continual existence. In the absence of this unified approach social break down was inevitable. 

Through the years the village systems that were formed by our forth parents have gone through many changes culturally, socially and with ethnicity, but the fundamental principles that existed then that ensured their success through the early post slavery times can serve as teaching tools for all of us today. Especially the newly laid off workers of Guysuco.

Pooling resources for a greater good.

One such principle is merging/ pooling, no one slave could have bought a village, the slaves pooled their monies, strength and mental faculty to ensure a better life and for the building up of themselves. Similarly, the laid off sugar workers could pool their resources and ideas together to bring a remedy to the unemployment they now face. Whether its money, land or human capital, all resources can be combined. Field staff, with office staff merging their experiences can birth a rounded, well organized, profitable business venture.   

Doing agricultural businesses

Secondly the freed slaves farmed. Agriculture was the way of life for the post-colonial society, though they sought to move away from the plantation life, agriculture was of paramount importance to the economic development of the day. Guyana today is rich with avenues for agricultural endeavors, the planting of vegetables, the coconut industry and cattle rearing are among the many agricultural avenues these citizens can ventures into.

Social support for each other  

Thirdly the social support for each other were among the common practices that help newly freed slaves to endure the “after slavery life”. In like manner the estate workers could look out for each other and offer social support for each other, no man is an island, a word of encouragement, a good thought, an idea passed on can be all it takes to help someone through.

There is a saying that only those who feel it knows, hence it can only be beneficial for those who feel the pains of unemployment to come together and help each other through whatever positive way possible.     

Sugar workers