AFC-led picket highlights plight of sweeper-cleaners

Sep 02, 2011 News

---

 

 

“More money for sweeper-cleaners”, “Everything raising but salary”, and “Where is the democracy in the distribution of wealth?” were among the many cries of protestors who gathered in front of the Ministry of Finance, Main Street, Georgetown, yesterday morning.
The protest, which was led by the Alliance For Change (AFC), sought to highlight the plight of sweeper-cleaners who, it was pointed out, have been receiving below minimum wage for about a decade.
Some of the placards read: “Rain a fall but the dutty tough, the Guyana situation”; “Where is the concern for the working class?” and “School cleaners being paid $15,000 per month”.
Among the protesters was Miriam Fordyce, a mother of five, who has been employed as a sweeper-cleaner at a school for 10 years, noted that while public servants enjoy yearly increases, sweeper-cleaners do not get the same treatment.
Fordyce stated that cleaners play an integral role in the system despite the fact that many may not regard them as important. The disgruntled woman stressed that if the schools are not cleaned the students will become very ill.
Another protester, Rushell Britton, claimed that money is not deducted from their salary for National Insurance Scheme.

Britton, a mother of three, says she has been receiving this meagre salary for several years. The woman emphasized that her salary finishes before she collects it since she invariably has to repay debts. It was noted that she has to send her children to school and the money cannot clear expenses.
Presidential candidate of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjatan’s placard read:  “Rain a fall but the dutty tough, the Guyana situation”. Explaining his slogan, Ramjatan stated that Guyana has money but it is not reaching the masses.
He pointed to the fact that the country’s revenue increased with the implementation of the 16 percent Value Added Tax, but the administration has become callous to the working class people and only certain persons and contractors enjoy the benefits.
Ramjatan stated that, “It really appears that the State apparatus has been hijacked by a political cabal with no conscience concerning the endemic poverty that afflicts some segments of the society.”
It was revealed that the AFC recently became aware that sweeper-cleaners attached to the school system with nine years of service and working for eight to 10 hours daily are paid $15,800 per month although the public service minimum wage is $32,207.
“A directive sent by the Finance Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and seen by the AFC, seeks to effectively usurp the authority of the RDC by imposing the stipulation that sweeper-cleaners be considered as contracted service providers and not as public servants,” Ramjatan stated.
He asserted that, “This would entail their entitlement to the minimum wage and the benefits associated with such.”
He explained that the directive stated that, “Budget agencies are reminded that Chart of Accounts 6111 to 6115 must correspond directly to the categorization used by the Public Service Ministry. Only employees who are appointed to permanent positions by the Public and Police Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, or the Defence Board should be included in these categories. All other employees should be classified as “Contracted” or “Temporary” under Chart of Accounts 6116 and 6117. Please be reminded that sweepers-cleaners for schools are contracted service providers and should be reflected under Chart of Account 6284.”
In addition, such a directive effectively serves as the basis for paying sweeper-cleaners, despite their many years of service, half of the minimum wage, and denying them the benefits associated with the public service categorization.
Ramjatan stated that, “The AFC has also noted that the Ministry of Finance in executing such a directive would override the authority of the RDC by sending such instructions to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) who, in contravention of the stipulation of the constitution, functions also as the Chief Finance Officer. The REO (it should be underscored) is an officer within the authority of the Council.”
“This practice can certainly be deemed ultra vires the dictates of the Local Democratic Organs Act, which stipulates that the State may delegate any of its authority to a Local Democratic Organ and not to staff within that Organ,” he added.
“As a result of this dire situation, teachers have had to resort to soliciting monies from parents to pay sweeper-cleaners. A duty that rightfully belongs to the State,” Ramjatan asserted emphatically.

---

---