Latest update November 22nd, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- Exxon wants new oil block on own terms
- Indian companies eye Guyana’s oil
- ICC issues arrest warrant for Israeli PM Netanyahu for ‘war crimes’ in Gaza
- Developing countries should not be curtailed in exploiting natural resources- PM Modi tells Parliament
- Govt- owned Marriott sells VP Jagdeo expired soft drink
Five per cent increase …West Dem. Hospital employees mount protest
Public servants attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital yesterday mounted a protest outside the medical facility in rejection to the five per cent increase on the wages and salaries of all public workers.
The demonstrators were not significant in number, but the small gathering had representatives from most departments in the hospital.
Nurses, maids, laboratory technicians, porters, dental staff and clerks stood in the midday sun and called for measures to be implemented so that they can realize a better standard of living.
The demonstration yesterday
They echoed chants like “five per cent cant wuk, no money, no wuk and public servants are not Christmas ponies.”
Nurses well dressed in their professional attire and even one who was dressed casually because she is on the night shift, told Kaieteur News that they are already working under inhumane conditions and a meager five percent increase, which when given retroactively will reflect “a lil” $25,000, just cannot suffice.
Those assembled called for a 25 per cent increase. The group highlighted the fact that the National 2013 Budget provided for a 15 per cent increase and asked “why they can’t even give we that at least?”
Reference was also made to the tax break that government promised to public servants who have mortgages under $30M. However, the nurses contended “give us a better salary so that we can pay our own interest on mortgages ourselves… we don’t want the supplement.”
Region Three representative of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Monica Walters told Kaieteur News that the protest will continue.
Walters, who was part of the protest action yesterday, said that the GPSU is not sure how long it will take to make a change but “we will continue to rally workers we represent and demand a liveable salary.”
She said that it is plain eye pass for the past 10 years for the government to just “dash” a five per cent increase in the face of public servants.
She noted that it cannot and will not be taken lightly this time “even though some are afraid, because the REO (Regional Executive Officer) Donald Gajraj threatened.”
According to Walters, the REO told the nurses in plain language that those who strike or take protest action will be sanctioned.
She stated that the REO must take note that the time which is being used to mount the protest action is the allocated lunch hour given to the workers.
Walters added that the GPSU is advising a ‘go slow’ and is encouraging every member to stand up for their rights since “change must come.”
During the protest action, a doctor reportedly “violated” one of the nurses involved in the protest.
Nicola Doobay told Kaieteur News that the doctor, who recently returned from Cuba, passed and ‘jammed’ her with his Toyota Tundra vehicle while she was part of the protest action.
According to the nurse, she started to tap the vehicle to solicit the doctor’s attention following his action and he immediately stopped, came out and asked “wam, wam why you hit the vehicle?” She said she brought to his attention the fact that he had hit her and he jumped back into his vehicle and drove off in a speed.
Another nurse told Kaieteur News that the doctor came out of the vehicle “like he wanted to fight …but we would not have allowed him to take advantage.”
Among other problems, the nurses lamented the shortage of running water at the facility.
They said that they are sometimes forced to wash their hands with saline solution and fetch water to flush the toilets. The nurses reflected that it is very strenuous in the maternity unit to have to constantly fetch water to flush the toilets.
They also complained about the poor lighting in the area and pointed out that two nurses were attacked while on their way to the night shift.
Yasmin Henry, a nurse for 23 years, said that the poor conditions are becoming overbearing. She said that she is willing to continue protesting until things change for the better.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A false panacea for electoral integrity
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News – Advocates for fingerprint verification in Guyana’s elections herald it as... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
