Latest update January 1st, 2025 1:00 AM
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Protests begin against absent Guyanese in Marriott construction
One of the protesters with Mark Benchop
Guyanese are now beginning to protest the recent move by the government to support the Chinese Construction Company, Shanghai Construction Group (SCG), responsible for the Construction of the $US60M Marriott Hotel, in not hiring any local workers.
The people came out in their numbers yesterday to highlight their concerns over what they described as an “unfair” and “disrespectful” move made by the government to agree to the conditions of the Chinese construction company of not hiring local workers.
The protest was organized by Social activist, Mark Benschop outside Office of the President.
During the protest yesterday, protesters questioned the reason why the government sidelined the local workers and allowed the Chinese to “call the shots.”
“Are the Guyanese not capable of working? Can you go to China or Japan as a Guyanese and get a job? Why is the Government allowing the Chinese to do as they please?” a protestor, Shonnet Adams, questioned.
The woman, who hails from Agricola, said that there are many unemployed youths in her village who are desperately in need of jobs but are not getting because of the lack of jobs in the country.
“There are people who have the qualifications and are not getting jobs here. The President promised the Lindeners 2000 jobs; today not one job was offered to the Citizens. They were all offered to the Chinese,” the woman added.
The government had boasted that the project, which is costing some US$60 million, would create hundreds of jobs but months into construction there are no Guyanese workers at the site after repeated visits.
Chief Executive Officer for Atlantic Hotels Incorporated, Winston Brassington, came out in defence of the Chinese construction company and said that the use of a mostly Chinese labour force to construct the hotel was one of the conditions by the construction company to “control whom they employ.”
Benschop said that Guyanese were not even given the lowest job in the construction of the Marriott Hotel.
“We respect foreign investors and they should respect our rights but if the Chinese are going to say they will only hire their people then there won’t be any respect there.”
The 160-room hotel and entertainment complex is expected by February 2014.
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