Latest update March 27th, 2025 8:24 AM
Latest News
- Jamaica rebuffs Rubio push against Cuban doctors
- Canadian company to pay over US$3.8M to local titleholders to fully acquire second gold project in Guyana
- Over 140,000 displaced in a week in Gaza amid renewed Israeli attacks: UN
- Businessmen complain of foreign currency shortage
- PPP disrupts meeting with Mohamed and Berbice residents
GuySuCo official dismisses chronically ill workers’ claims
– one of them was paid off by corporation
Evidence has emerged that claims made by sugar workers attached to the East Demerara Estates may not be entirely accurate.
A reliable source in the sugar industry has released details which show that the GuySuCo doctor acted professionally with respect to the treatment of the workers.
The workers had made damaging claims which suggested that the medical practitioner had declared them fit while they were ill, resulting in them not being able to access their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) sickness benefits.
One of the workers, Muneshwar Rai, had claimed that although he suffered a stroke three years ago and was unable to walk properly, the GuySuCo doctor had declared him fit to work.
Muneshwar Rai (second from left) and his three sugar industry colleagues.
However, according to an official in the sugar industry, Rai was medically discharged for the same ailment since November 2009.
The official said that Rai received a lump sum payoff from GuySuCo and is presently attending the ‘Chronic Illness’ clinic at a GuySuCo health centre.
Another worker Richard Bissoon had claimed that he had received NIS medical benefit for the 70 days he was unable to work. He had laid the blame on the sugar corporation’s lack of concern for workers’ welfare, since according to him, he was forced to prematurely go back to work due to the loss of income. He had said he fell ill again while on the job and is now dependent on the benevolence of colleagues on the sugar estate.
The GuySuCo official explained that Bissoon was granted 70 days’ NIS leave from Georgetown Hospital and a private doctor, before being seen by the GuySuCo medical expert.
“He is receiving treatment and is still on NIS leave,” the official told Kaieteur News.
The official further explained that about three weeks ago when his ailment was fully controlled and he was well, he was declared fit, but he returned the following week ill, and his NIS leave was restarted.
Hukumchand, who reportedly collapsed while working in the canefields two Fridays ago is another worker with a claimed grievance.
He had said that he is an epileptic, who had collapsed several times while on duty. He had told this newspaper that he had applied for early retirement but this was denied by the GuySuCo management.
But according to the GuySuCo official, Hukumchand never reported collapsing prior to last Friday and only disclosed to the medical personnel that he was epileptic when he visited the health centre.
“It’s GuySuCo’s Policy that epileptics are not allowed to work in the backdam, so whenever the doctor is aware of anyone being epileptic, he is started on leave, given alternate work, or medically discharged if no suitable work is available.”
Hemchand Harrichand, the worker that wasn’t mentioned in an article carried by this newspaper last Tuesday, was given NIS leave, and referred to the Medical Board.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The U.S. pressure on Venezuela may backfire on Guyana
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The world is full of unintended consequences, those sly little gremlins that slip into... more
The Caribbean: Destined to Grin and Bear the Consequences of Its Self-Created Vulnerabilities?
By Sir Ronald Sanders For decades, many Caribbean nations have grappled with dependence on a small number of powerful countries... more
Weekend Cartoon
