Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
CONTINUOUS ABUSE OF AUTHORITY AT THE GUYANA SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE
Dear Editor,
It seems as the situation mentioned above will continue to occur in diverse ways even with all that has been published in this newspaper.
After all the articles there was an evident calm to the storms faced by both students and workers. Since Amanda B is dealing with the student issues I will take up the staff issues.
Management of the institution seems a bit relaxed and Mr. Powerful (Director) seems to be regaining his strides simply because the rubberstamp is wearing out.
Even though the following were highlighted, nothing has been done to fix them since Management is just concerned with receiving exorbitant salaries—the salaries that no one received in all the years of the institution’s existence. These guys are even less qualified and experienced than the previous persons.
For example, Lynette Cunha the previous Principal, her salary was not much in excess of two hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Compton Hinds the former Deputy Principal, his salary was a bit lower. During those days based on information, GSA used to make money and the place had good management. There was a Personnel Officer and staff were placed according to their qualification.
Now if you are employed in one capacity, depending on who you upset you are placed somewhere else and expected to do that job and many times the jobs of others that were there before and you are expected to do it efficiently and without complaints. Persons are leaving the job and very little to no replacements were done in many sections. Oh beautiful GSA.
Today the Rubberstamp and Mr. Powerful are both receiving in excess of six hundred thousand dollars and the management leaves much to be desired. Mr. Powerful is trying but his selfish and bullish behavior is his downfall.
No people skills but he does try a little. On the other hand, the Rubberstamp is at sea. He seems not to know where his left hand or his right foot is. All the staff and even students know that. They know he can’t work without Bully telling he wah fu duh.
The sad part about that is that he collecting almost seven hundred grand a month in salary and benefits and the institution and some staff suffering like hell. Just to mention a few…..
Okay, let’s get back on shore. Sources have informed me that the issues that have been outlined in my letters have not yet been addressed.
1. No vacancy for personnel officer/ human resource manager has been posted even though the institution needs one to deal with the enormous amount of staff issues.
2. Inadequate representation from the union and shop stewards. Regarding the union, the workers are in a situation where their hands are in Tiger’s mouth. Several benefits are owed to them but they are afraid to go slow or protest since they are not sure what will happen.
The communication process between the union and the workers have been very slow and dicey. Many opine that the union is just there for formal representation for quite a while now. There is information that Greenidge (the Facilitator / CEO/Rubberstamp) and the union representative congregate at the same Church and that may cause the union rep to be lenient with Management once he gets his dues. This situation makes it absolutely horrible for the workers.
3. No information has been disseminated to the workers regarding future appointments. The present Government does not want contract but the workers are on a contract that concludes December 2018.
Nothing about contract or anything else and now that there is not an active board sets things in place for Management to remain complacent and just let workers continue to suffer.
To make things more interesting no severance pay has yet been given to the workers who were almost forced by a SECRETARY to sign because she was instructed by her boss. This is almost four years and Management has not been forthcoming with the information. Once their salary don’t get affected, to hell with the workers.
Mr. Editor, we are gradually moving along the tip of the iceberg but it is rather unfortunate that this information even though public, has not attracted the attention of the Granger administration.
Paul Anthony John
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