A BIT of a 'storm in a teacup' was stirred up in recent days with the claim that women who participated in the annual All Island Jamaica Cane Farmers' Association's Cane (AIJCF) Cutters Competition AIJCF) were denied the same level of prize money as the men. The has rejected the claim, however, saying that the women in fact did not cut cane but competed in other sectoral contests which carried their own level of reward.
The cultivation of sugar cane, in all its different stages, has never been pleasant work. While the product may be sweet, there is little that is sweet in the back-breaking tasks of planting and nurturing the cane to fruition. In contemporary times, the women are most often involved in the manual application of fertiliser, pesticides and other substances, which, improperly handled, can lead to serious health problems, a situation to which international and local health and welfare organisations have frequently drawn attention.
The industry spotlight, if it could be called that, has been turned usually on the men who cut the mature cane and whose dexterity is often hailed as a significant contribution to production. It is no doubt for that reason that the Cane Cutters competition was organised to give recognition and reward. By contrast, rarely has notice, much less glory, been accorded to the women who toil at the ground level in the 'cane-piece'; so perhaps the time has come to recognise and appropriately reward them. They may not be able to swing a cutlass with the same dexterity and stamina as the men, but their contribution is nonetheless valuable.
Hard work is not unknown to our women especially those who do so in the interest of supporting their families. There are many examples around us, such as their breakthrough in the construction industry, one of the great success stories of the ability and determination of the Jamaican working-class woman to overcome the most serious challenges and excel in so doing.
The heyday of sugar may be passing, what with controversial trade agreements, changed quotas and low yields; and there are welcome moves to diversify to other products such as bagasse and ethanol to fuel our energy needs. Before the industry changes to the point of being unrecognisable, it might be good to reserve a space in the country's memory of honour for those who contributed to its history, not the least among them the women.
Incidentally, it was only last Thursday that national remembrance was made of the birthday of Alexander Bustamante (February 17). His passionate advocacy for the sugar workers of his time and his unabashed support of women in the workplace, including the cane field, is well known. One can well surmise how he would react to the suggestion that the time may well be ripe to pay tribute to the women of our cane fields.
