On
Saturday 30 May the Guatemalan region where the Bandegua
plantation is located was strongly hit by the storm Agatha,
which caused floods and torrents of mud. Sirel discussed
with Noe Ramirez, general secretary of the union of Banana
Workers of Izabal (SITRABI), which members are the worst
victims of this natural disaster.
-What is going on now in the Izabal area?
-The flow of water is decreasing, but the situation is still
very complex because houses and camps are covered by a layer
of mud. Water went up almost two meters and left one meter
of mud. All material properties have been lost, clothes,
home appliances...
-So there is complete loss of material goods?
-Absolutely. For the time being it is incalculable.
-Were there any casualties?
-Unfortunately we are very sorry for the death of a person
who was riding a motorcycle and ended up in a swollen river.
-And the plantation?
-50
percent of the plantation was lost.
Two days after the flow of water had gone down, we were
happy to believe that at least the production would not be
damaged, but river Motagua was swollen with a second storm
in the neighboring departments of Zacapa and El Progreso,
the plantation was flooded again, and the workers' camps
suffered the consequences I just mentioned.
After that, the sun heated the fruits, which prematurely
matured and became useless.
-What has Bandegua done?
-Workers were called back to work; management has stated
they want to recover the entire surface that became
unuseable.
The old plants were lost, but now taking care of the new
plants is required, in order to recover production. There is
hope because jobs in Guatemala and
the region may be kept.
-But certainly the economic situation is very distressed...
-That's correct. Some neighboring communities have become
organized and are sending processed food because for the
time being there are no conditions for people to cook.
For instance, the teachers' union sent a thousand meals,
which our union took to the camps to be distributed among
the needed ones.
Yesterday, groups of neighbors sent 500 tamales which
were also distributed. This is how we are going through this
difficult time. We
have knocked at the doors of several government entities and
the Red Cross to ask for help.
-What has been Bandegua's reaction in that sense?
-The
company has sent some provisions, but the amount is
noticeably scarce as compared with the needs.
Particularly because they have delivered some food to each
worker, but behind workers, there are families who lack
mostly everything, then it is not enough.
-What has the government done?
-So far, only words and good intentions. The government has
declared that clothes, provisions, medicines and shoes,
which are the basic immediate needs, would be provided, but
they have not arrived. Many people are infected with fungus
due to humidity and mud. On
Sunday 6, Sandra Torres, the President's wife came to visit
and promised many things, but we need facts instead of
words. A lot has been offered, but very little has arrived.
We need water, which is scarce, not for neglect of the
company but for the massive use which is collapsing the
pumps. Workers are still cleaning their homes.
Summing up, with everyone's effort and sacrifice things are
going back to normal.
-How many affected persons are there?
-Bandegua, workers, whether union or non union, are
3,200, which should be multiplied by four or five to
consider their families. That
means that it is 13 to 15 thousand persons who have lost
absolutely everything.
We are very thankful to all the organizations who have sent
their solidarity, among them Rel-UITA through
regional secretary Gerardo
Iglesias, of course.
