Latest update March 20th, 2025 5:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyana’s oil growth boosting regional economies– CDB Director of Economics
- Suspected outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Region Four
- Israel launches first ground offensive since Gaza ceasefire collapse
- Sod turned for $665M expansion of St. Stanislaus College
- Pensioner jailed for raping child
Can someone tell the Town Clerk that this practice is callous, reprehensible and illegal?
Dear Editor,
The responses given by the Town Clerk of Georgetown to the most recent strike action taken by the workers under the leadership of the Guyana Labour Union is nothing short of alarming.
It is clear that the Town Clerk is completely unaware or is proud to ignore the laws of Guyana. He indicated with pride that the Council has consciously decided to undertake the practice of paying the employees whilst withholding the deductions made from them and which he is obligated to remit to the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Scheme, the Credit Unions etc because the Council does not have enough money. Can someone tell the Town Clerk that this practice is not only callous and reprehensible but totally illegal?
If the Council is indeed as impoverished as he claims, why then are they paying him in lieu of a large chunk of his accumulated vacation leave, that he has refused to take over the years. Is that not just simply unfair.
Was the Council not as impecunious when he and the Mayor and their delegations traveled around the world first class, staying at the finest hotels and dining at the ritziest restaurants and not achieving or bringing anything back for the city?
Why then did the Town Clerk and one of his sidekicks, the Human Resource Manager raise the salaries of a few bigwigs (senior officers) and then also employ hundreds of their friends, families and church pals at exorbitant salaries, for of course doing very little or nothing all day long?
If the Council was as insolvent as he claims, why did the Council purchase expensive sports utility vehicles for their bigwigs, provide them with chauffeurs, bodyguards, personal assistants etc?
How can we believe that the Council is so bankrupt as they claim to be, when they have contracted out most of their services for hundreds of millions of dollars each month without subscribing to tender board procedures to their friends, instead of allowing the workers to do their jobs.
But the most unsettling of all is his claim that the strike was orchestrated at this time of their anniversary celebrations by the Union to embarrass the Council. Is this gentleman for real? Is he equating the plight of the workers, including significant financial and medical risks due to piling up medical bills and no insurance coverage and facing tax penalties due to nonpayment of the PAYE contributions to some vacuous celebration?
Is it not just insensate to have a city week of celebrations when municipal workers are perishing, craving and emaciated?
By the way, where is the other so called union, are they in hiding or enjoying the festivities? .
Sincerely
James Mc Onnell
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
No immigrant should feel safe in America today
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There was a time when an illegal immigrant in America could live in the shadows with some... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
