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Workers duped, threatened with death for leaving logging camp

Aug 27, 2012 News

 

 

Four men who had sought employment with a logging concern are claiming that they were tricked and almost used as slaves when they ventured into the interior to work.
The men Nick Sooraj, 18, of Diamond East Bank Demerara, Sheriff Kahn 23, Reaz Ali 23 and Surendra Persaud 51, all of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo claimed that they had to flee the interior after their employer threatened to kill them.
They are alleging that the employer made false accusations of theft against them and is using ranks of the Leonora Police Station to harass their families for money.
The workers related that two Saturdays ago, they were contacted by the employer (name given) to work as loggers at Itaballi Sand Road, Essequibo.
Persaud, the eldest of the four men said that they were given an advance of $20,000 to get to the location but although they had enquired, no work contracts were provided by the employer.
He informed that they were assured by the employer that the necessary equipment, food items and a cook would be available to them.
Persaud continued that three days after the arrangements were made, nine employees, the employer and two other men travelled to Itaballi and arrived around 12:30 hours.
Persaud said he went to cook while the other workers “surveyed” the area and checked out the machinery.
He told Kaieteur News that while he cooked, the other workers ventured away from the camp hoping for telephone signal to contact their families via their cell phones.
During that time, Persaud said, he was left alone with the employer and he started to question the man about the work conditions, since none of the equipment was working.
There was also no cook and the only food at the camp was pumpkin, eddoes and chowmein.
Persaud explained that as a result of him questioning the employer, he was struck over the right eye with a firearm and then kicked on the right side rib.
He said that he could not retaliate since the employer was carrying a firearm.
But when the other workers returned Persaud told them about the altercation.
They were then called to a meeting at which the employer implemented rules that were never part of the original agreement.
The workers said they were told that all broken equipment had to be fixed before work could start so that they could be paid. They were also told that they had to “cook their own food or starve”.
The men said that they were also ordered to do additional work and later threatened with death if they left the camp.
Persaud said that after the meeting, the men plotted to escape during the night. Just before midnight, five of the nine employees decided to hit the trail heading for home, while four others remained with the hopes of leaving the camp the following morning.
Persaud claimed that a day after he returned home, the employer and the police showed up and accused him and his co-workers of stealing $260,000 worth of equipment. He said he was tossed in the Leonora Police Station lock ups for four days without medical attention for the gun wound.
The workers claimed that the employer, with some ranks from the Leonora Police Station, have been demanding money from their families; ordering that they must pay for the equipment. The workers are however concerned about their missing colleagues “Anil” and “Chicken” who they had left behind at the logging camp.
Kaieteur News however contacted the employer who gave his name as James Dock. He claimed that the workers robbed him and that the men were working based on a signed contract. Dock however said that the matter is with police and he did not have much more to say.

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