I am suggesting the importation and use of Haitian labour

Jun 20, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I wish to revisit the matters concerning Guysuco and its impending restructuring. I hope the Government has taken good note of the speed with which the PPP and its cohorts have been able to shut down activity on the Corentyne even though for a day. The GAWU have the largest credit union in operation in this nation. If they are serious I think that they can join in with Government and not only make strong proposals, but also come up with a viable plan to turn around Skeldon factory using its capital from the credit union.
I still cannot think that a serious union can prevent members from accessing work as we have witnessed on the West Bank of Demerara. The workforce has not even made an attempt to go to Uitvlugt and try out the conditions there. One would feel that if after trial they find the conditions much more than they would have endured at Wales, then they would justifiably have grounds for protest and complaint. As it stands these workers have simply quit their jobs and are thus not eligible for severance.
It seems as though the Government will have to engage in a migrant workers scheme much like the USA Farm Worker Scheme of yesteryear. I knew many persons who availed themselves of such opportunities and they did well. I was only a child then, but I saw the improvement in the lives of the families who so benefited. Instead of turning back the Haitians the government needs to encourage those persons from Haiti who have farm experience to come and work in the Guysuco fields.
For sure they will demand less pay than those workers who are now refusing to be engaged. Also we brought in 400 Chinese for the Marriott construction and another 350 from India for the construction of the stadium. So why not send employment agents to Haiti and gather the best of their labour force for service here. With oil production on the horizon we are going to be faced with an acute shortage of labour in various skills, even unskilled labour. It is time that we start now to develop a disciplined labour force to meet the imminent challenges ahead.
Cyril Walker

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