Published 5 March 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
by: Media Source
Ex-sugar workers, families, still waiting to get their “sugar money” from Team Unity
Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 15, 2018 – It is nearly three full years and several ex-sugar workers and their families are still waiting for their portion of the US$16 million that the Timothy Harris-led Team Unity Government received from the President of Venezuela His Excellency Nicholas Maduro.
Many dependants of deceased relatives who worked for decades in the sugar industry have still not been paid either.
“Our family was somewhat taken aback to hear Dr. Harris in delivering a tribute at the funeral of our grandmother, boasted how he had personally delivered her check when the industry closed. He did not and could not state that our grandmother benefitted from the payments he made in 2015 and 2016 from the Venezuela sugar money,” said T.M., who spoke on condition that her initials only be used.
“Where is the second portion that was due to her and that he promised? Granny never ever received it and there are several persons in the neighbouring communities who worked like hell and still have not been paid theirs despite making several efforts,” said T.M.
“We have been waiting for a very long time. Lots of persons have given up. It is shameful. Where is the balance of the money that has not been paid? Who has it? Where is it? Who is in control of it? What is happening to the interest,” said F.D, her cousin, who accompanied her.
F.D. said her father worked for 50 years and to date not a cent and all the documents were sent in.
“Papa is long in his grave. We had submitted affidavits but were given the usual run around,” said F.D.
Dr. Harris, a Government Minister in the Labour Cabinet when the industry was closed in 2005, publicly said then PAM leader Lindsay Grant was lying when he (Grant) claimed in 2008, that sugar workers who were severed were not paid all the monies.
Harris in his dishonesty and deceit began singing the same tune as the former PAM leader and in 2012, claimed too that sugar money was owed and promised if elected, the balance would be paid. He again deceived the ex-sugar workers and changed the payment to a “gratuitous one” when he became prime minister.
On taking office in February 2015, Harris begged the money from Venezuela. President Nicholas Maduro gave him a grant of US$16 million.
Harris claimed the cheque was in Eastern Caribbean dollars, but the Government of Venezuela website Telesur states US$16 million was donated.
The opposition has claimed that the US$16 million for former sugar workers was used as a slush fund to pay off PAM/Unity supporters for their political patronage in the election although scores of them never worked one day in the sugar industry.
Here is a well-known statement from an ex-sugar worker who worked in the industry for decades and had to take to the airwaves to demand payment of the gratuity as promised by Harris.
“I worked all the days of my life in the canefields and not even a dollar. My daughter sent in a paper (application form) and up to now not even a dollar. I cannot walk, I am not able, I have sugar, I am sick,” said Clarice Dore in a telephone call to Freedom FM’s 106.5 “Issues” programme in 2016.
“Up to now not even a dollar. Lord, (I have) one foot and not even a dollar,” she said before delivering a
verbal message to Prime Minister Harris.
“Not even a dollar Mr Timothy. Mr Harris, you know me and I know you, but I leave everything in the hands of the Almighty God, because a rich man cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven…people who act like that cannot sleep at night,” said Ms. Dore.
Photos 1 – US$16 million cheque
Photo 2 – Clarice Dore
Photo 3 – canecutters
Photo 4 – Dr. Timothy Harris
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