Our Labour Laws and Investments

Dec 13, 2020 Features / Columnists, The Story within the Story

The Story Within The Story…

By Leonard Gildarie

Kaieteur News – On Friday, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) announced that it has approved a whopping US$112M for the first phase of the Linden/Lethem roadway. The loan would be part of the US$190M cost for the first phase which stretches the 121 kilometers between Linden and Mabura, Region 10.
There has been talks for years about paving the 450km stretch of the Linden/Lethem road or trail as the condition can be described now. It will undoubtedly open up opportunities in our hinterlands for tourism and trade and, of course, bring the possibilities of trade with Brazil to the fore. The Roraima State, the area of Brazil closest to Guyana, has been looking to use Guyana’s ports as it was cheaper and the route shorter than what prevails in Brazil. It will create economic opportunities for Guyana, authorities say.
Of course, the more than 300km from Mabura to Kurupukari and then on to Lethem will still have to be done. Brazil has shown interest in the stretch from Lethem to Kurupukari and it appears that the Irfaan Ali administration is dead-set on the paving of the roadway.
Already, on the east, moves are underway to link Suriname to Guyana via a bridge. It is dizzying the possibilities of trade.
We will, as Guyanese, drive over to Suriname and spend a night or two to relax or shop. We have possibilities now with Brazil as there is a bridge linking the two countries at Takutu River.
In recent weeks, several local and international businesses have also announced undertakings to build hotels. It will not be any ‘jokey’ hotels, according to what has been reported.
Marriott Courtyard, Hilton, Hyatt and several brands are targeted. These are the cream of the lot.
On Friday, a local business, of the Bassoo family, announced intentions to build a US$20M Marriott Courtyard for the Timehri area, near to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Mirroring this, of course, would be the scores of businesses being established in the oil and gas sector.
Not only for the services side of things, but of course, actual production.
It involves billions of dollars.
Guyana will be facing a deluge of investors and immigrants the likes that this region has not seen in decades. It will surpass Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and little St. Maarten, a Dutch overseas territory in the Leewards Islands area.
We have to be ready for it.
We have been talking about our readiness.
Our enforcement and monitoring side of things will have to experience a total remake. More boots on the ground.
Recently, I interviewed Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, on ‘The WakeUp Guyana Show’ on Kaieteur Radio.
He admits that he inherited a broken system where only a fifth of the staffers he requires are in place.
There were no inspectors available to check what is happening on our oil production platform offshore Guyana.
Minister Hamilton said that he does not believe inspectors should be in office, but rather on the road, visiting employers and inspecting.
Right now, not yesterday, we have to revamp our immigration department and find synergies between the Labour Ministry and other areas.
Work permits and border security must all be part of a national task force to tackle this issue.
We are five years after the discovery of oil and the country’s profile has changed dramatically.
We need to wake up and understand that we need to be ready.
We need our laws to be revamped and a system that at the click of a button, immigration officials can check who has work permits. The same goes for labour officials.
There must be service charges/fees introduced that are standard. The country cannot be the one standing the expense.
Work permits must expire and new fees charged for renewals.
There must be a long term strategy to train our locals to reduce the demands for foreign workers.
It would be an intolerable situation for us to be importing construction workers or drivers.
There must be ground rules.
The Linden/Lethem road, once paved will open up new areas.
Mines officers and forest rangers will have their work cut out.
The reality is that currently, corruption and vast, difficult terrain have all conspired to make monitoring and enforcement appear foreign to our country.
Yet there is evidence of our lands being chewed up and the presence of hundreds of foreign, illegal workers in our gold bush.
Unless we take action now, we will have an out-of-control country.
Our borders have to be protected. Our jobs have to be secured.
It should not be a question of if, but when.
Sitting on our hands, as the clock ticks, is not an option.
Talking about billions of dollars in investments while we leave our back door open will be all for naught.