Part-time worker arrested, stripped during dispute with NDC over payment

… “It was embarrassing” – woman

A government part-time worker was on Monday arrested and stripped naked after the payee for the 10-day part-time workers at the 52-63 NDC Office claimed that the woman was paid $40,000 instead of $20,000
Drupwattie Deenarine called ‘Kavita’ of Number 56 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) told this publication she only worked five days for the month instead of 10 and on Monday when she went to collect her salary was given $20,000.

“(Name withheld) give me $20,000 (4 $2,000 bill and 12 $1,000 bill). I check the money in her presence then I leave and catch a car and go back to my workplace,” the woman recounted.
However, a few hours later she was told that there was a problem with payment and she should return to the office with the money she collected.
Deenarine calimed that she told the caller that she had already paid the canteen lady the $5000 and another she owed $4000.
She was instructed to collect the money and return to the office, which she said she did.
“I work 5 days, they paid me $20,000and an hour later they called back and say that they paid me $40,000 and let me return the $20,000 which I did not get extra money from them,” she explained.
The woman was subsequently arrested and humiliated at the Springlands Police Station.
“I feel very bad about it because it is hurtful; they stripped me naked while nobody was there – like my family members. I have big children and I have grandchildren. It was embarrassing. I am from a respectful family. People are doing worst that this and this don’t happen to anybody,” the woman said.
She said that she was made to lodge the money she had collected as her salary at the station. Additionally, she was placed on $30,000 bail after spending several hours at the police station. When contacted for a comment on the matter and why the woman was stripped, a police official said that the matter is an active investigation. After the story was aired on Evening News channel 28, Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Shivpersaud Bacchus contacted this publication to say that Deenarine was not striped and searched at the police station. However, the woman is standing by her story. (G4)