Latest update April 21st, 2025 5:30 AM
Latest News
- Documents for Wales Gas-to-Energy project will be made public when entire scheme is completed- VP Jagdeo
- President Ali should determine whether Ramson should be sacked for non-performance – Jagdeo
- 31 Palestinians killed by bombs yesterday across Gaza
- Linden youths killed by police laid to rest
- Biker killed in Essequibo crash
GUYSUCO has betrayed us – GAWU
-claims workers being fired
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has alleged that it has been betrayed. The
GAWU head
Komal Chand
union is claiming that Wales Estate workers have either been fired or threatened with summary dismissal late last week and yesterday.
GAWU, in a missive yesterday, took aim at a February 6, 2016 edition of a daily newspaper which had quoted Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, as saying that workers of the Wales Estate should not be worried, since their jobs are not on the line.
“He is quoted as saying “As it stands now, we don’t think any worker will be retrenched at all. In terms of field operations, there is a total of about eleven hundred and something field operators and it’s only about 13 people who are probably threatened”
”GAWU, in view of the Minister’s comments, wishes to inform the public that as at (Friday) February 05, 2016, no less than 60 workers undertaking various tasks in the fields and the factory were given, by officials of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), marching orders.”
According to GAWU, the workers were told that they were no longer employed with the Estate on the grounds that they were temporary workers.
“These workers worked previous crops at the Estate. A few of them, including young females, we understand, were told they could be further employed to cut and load canes, if they wished.”
GAWU went on to state that yesterday, more than 50 planters were reportedly told by GuySuCo officials that if they did not to take up employment at Uitvlugt Estate and agree to accept severance pay within the three days, it would be regarded by GuySuCo that they had decided to leave the Estate’s employ.
GAWU is also contending that contrary to what being is said about the openness of the interviews that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) conducted with workers, the interviews are behind the representatives’ backs.
“GAWU condemns the so-called interviews at the instance of GuySuCo with the workers and the high-handedness adopted. The Union also wishes to point out that the interviews are being conducted behind the backs of the workers’ Unions – GAWU and NAACIE.”
This is just the latest in the Wales closure saga. The Ministry of Agriculture has alleged that since the announcement of the decision by the GuySuCo to integrate the sugar estates of Wales and Uitvlugt, GAWU has been misrepresenting the situation to create doubts in the minds of the workers
On Friday the Ministry had stated that the union has been less than truthful by stating that all workers will be severed. The Ministry had stressed that the Wales Factory will be closed at the end of the second crop for 2016, after both farmers’ and the estate canes have been harvested and processed by the factory.
“The Ministry also wishes to make clear that a “significant number” of workers from Wales will be absorbed at the Uitvlugt estate,” the Ministry said. “The GuySuCo-owned cultivation at Wales will be prepared for a “diversification program” as the canes are harvested in 2016.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Greater Civilian Involvement in the Guyana Police Force
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is in the throes of a chronic manpower crisis. It is no secret... more
Weekend Cartoon
