Agriculture Ministry engaged in misinformation

Dear Editor,
The State media on January 24, 2018, reported in an article titled “No additional retrenchment” that according to the Agriculture Ministry, the 967 workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates identified for redundancy had already been advised some time ago that they would be sent on the breadline. According to the Chronicle, the Agriculture Ministry’s statement said “[t]he 900 workers were retained by the Corporation… were aware that at the end of the extended period, they too would be sent home and paid their severance”. It seems, however, that the Ministry was either misinformed or is knowingly engaged in making misleading and mischievous statements.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to advise the Ministry and the public that not one of the 967 workers referred to has been told that they would be sent home. In fact, our Union has yet to be formally notified of the impending redundancies in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) which requires the employer in this case, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to supply us a list of the redundant employees. Following the submission of that critical information, the Union and GuySuCo, in keeping with TESPA, would jointly engage the workers concerned after which the workers would then receive their letters of redundancy. It is, therefore, befuddling to read the Agriculture Ministry making such disbelieving statements.
Moreover, during previous meetings between GAWU and GuySuCo in which redundant workers of the four estates in question were engaged some of the now identified 967 workers availed themselves. At that time, they were told by the Corporation’s officials that they were not being made redundant and their presence was not necessary and they should return to work. So to say the workers were informed that they would be severed at a later time is completely untrue.
The Agriculture Ministry’s statement also said “[t]he first list of workers for severance was 3700, which together with the 900… adds up to the 4763 severed workers”. On this matter, we urge the Ministry and GuySuCo officials to carefully re-read our statement as we did not raise this contention. As a matter of fact, our statement did not refer to any specific number except to say “several hundred workers retained… would soon be made additionally redundant”. It seems that eye examinations for some are required at these two important entities.
Whatever the final numbers turns out to be, it cannot erase the sordid fact that the Government and GuySuCo have placed, in a callous and cold-hearted manner, thousands of Guyanese on the breadline. Worse yet, we reiterate, there is a seeming lack of any comprehensive plan to address this sad reality. GAWU, as it has done before, calls on the Government and GuySuCo to really reassess and reverse their decision in view of the harsh realities it has fostered.

Sincerely,
Guyana Agricultural and
General Workers Union