Latest update March 25th, 2025 7:08 AM
Latest News
- Surinamese invest US$516M into country’s first oil project
- ExxonMobil impact study for Hammerhead project silent on likely explosion from new pipeline
- ‘A shocking breach’: Trump officials leak military attacks to The Atlantic
- Pensioner goes missing during creek outing at Kwakwani
- Cuban national jailed for entering Guyana illegally
Two more ex-employees make damning allegations against Chinese company
Two more Amerindians have come forward describing a horror story that they endured during their employment with a local Chinese business in the city.
Speaking to Kaieteur News from his mother’s home at Quarrie on the South Side of Lethem, a 13-year-old boy said he left the company’s employ around July of last year. The teenager worked for two months and collected $7,000 when he left.
The bond in which Amerindian workers are housed is located at D’Urban Backlands, behind the Chinese Embassy.
He confirmed that the living conditions and the hours of work under his employer were atrocious, adding that they did not even get time to wash their clothing, since they were forced to work from Sunday to Sunday, from seven in the morning to midnight. He said that they were only given “bare rice” to eat. The teenager also revealed additional shocking information of sexual games at the bond where they were housed.
The 13-year-old had left school, telling his relatives that he did not want to return. When he learnt of the opportunity to get work in the city, he jumped at the chance. But after the horrors he endured, he is now back at Lethem and back in school where he is reportedly doing well.
The teen’s 17-year-old-brother, who reportedly received $5000 for one month’s work, confirmed the information.
The two teenagers have stated that in addition to the Amerindian employees, there were four Chinese workers, and two teenaged Amerindian girls between 15 to 17-years-old who were also housed with them. The girls shared a room together, alone.
The boys reported that on Sundays, the Chinese “boss man” would supply them all with alcohol, including the two girls, forcing them to partake.
They alleged that after everyone was drunk, the sex would begin. The Chinese men, about seven in number, would attempt to make the Amerindian workers have sex with the girls. Some would and others would refuse.
The Chinese did not refuse. According to the teenagers, they would each take turns- the “boss man” included. The Amerindian boys reported that the Chinese men would also select the youngest of them (Amerindian boys) and have sex with them too.
The 13-year-old was one of the boys chosen during his employment.
They were recruited in the same manner as the others who first reported the story to this newspaper.
KN understands though, that recruitment is also done through a local Amerindian resident at Lethem, who would send anybody seeking work to a Chinese businessman in Lethem who is associated with the business.
The teens’ brother-in-law, who had initially called KN after reading the report in the Sunday edition, said that everything that the company’s spokesperson said was a lie. He added that the allegations by the ex-employees are true.
His wife, the boys’ sister, said that after her youngest brother had come to the city, she had wanted him to spend the weekends with her. She had to go to his employer to request permission for him to do so.
It was during one of these visits that her little brother revealed the horrors to her. She told her husband, and he immediately told her to demand that both brothers leave the job. They did so, but not without a bit of trouble.
When they told their boss that they wanted to leave, they were refused permission. According to the sister, they had to pack their belongings in black plastic garbage bags, and throw them over the walls.
The next day, they collected the bags, caught a bus to the bus park, where they contacted their brother-in-law who subsequently picked them up.
The brother-in-law had urged them to report the matter to the authorities. The 17 year old told KN however, that he did not have the courage at the time to do so. But now that he is out of the situation, he feels much more comfortable. “After all, now I can eat well and what I want,” he said.
On Saturday, a female spokesperson denied all the charges levelled against them by two other employees.
Meanwhile, a senior Ministry of Labour official, while indicating that he has not received any complaints of possible exploitation at the store, disclosed that there will be a probe into the allegations by the Amerindians, as early as today.
The Sexual Offences Bill is to be assented to today by the President of Guyana.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Desecration, Disrespectful, and Disgraceful
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The solemnity of Babu Jaan, a site meant to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Cheddi... more
Weekend Cartoon
