Construction workers clash with sub-contractor over salary

$1B Ocean View COVID-19 project

Workers involved in the controversial rebuilding of the flood-prone Ocean View International Hotel clashed with their sub-contractor on Saturday after weeks of withheld payments for their labour led to an outpouring of emotions.

When this publication arrived at the scene, some workers were in tears as they questioned the whereabouts of their pay. Raymond Seodat, who has been working with the sub-contractor for two weeks, explained that despite agreeing to pay workers every week, the sub-contractor reneged on this understanding.
“The agreement was, every week we supposed to get paid. But [this afternoon] he tell we he ain’t get money to give we. He then go upstairs and we ain’t get to see him back,” Seodat explained. Sookdeo Persaud, another worker, backed up Seodat’s explanation. According to him, their work ranges from masonry to carpentry.

Kevin Bissessar, another of the aggrieved workers, explained that he worked with the sub-contractor for almost three weeks without being paid. Bissessar said that after enquiring about his pay, he was told by the sub-contractor to go to the police station and he would “see what we gon do.”
“I was working with (name witheld) at the building, for almost three weeks and I didn’t get paid. He told me come 15:00h, now is 15:00h. He told me he ain’t got no money to pay we, he say leh we go to the station and see what we gon do. So, because of the [media] he get scared and that’s how he paid us.”

Eventually, payments did arrive for the workers. Deyounge (only name given), a representative of International Import and Supplies, the firm that contracted the sub-contractor, noted that the issue could have been resolved sooner had workers approached the contractor directly.
“The misunderstanding this afternoon is basically caused by skipping of the chain of command. Now, [name withheld], he employed these guys. And we employed [the sub-contractor]. [Name withheld] was supposed to pay these guys. But he didn’t,” he explained.
“Now if these guys had come to me and said, [name withheld] was giving them a hard time, it would have been resolved by me. It is being dealt with. I’m sure he will be [reprimanded],” Deyounge also said.

Secrecy surrounding project
Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Guyana, Government has been rebuilding the flood-prone Ocean View International Hotel, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, into a COVID holding facility.
Caretaker Finance Minister Winston Jordan had revealed last week that over $1 billion will be spent on this project, which includes an extension of the hotel and rehabilitation of the main structure. Operational costs are not included in the $1 billion price tag.
There have been questions, however, as to who really owns the building and what will be the arrangement post-COVID. People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali has been very critical of the secrecy surrounding the project.
Expressing his incredulity over the arrangement, he pointed out that not only is in excess of $1 billion being spent to retrofit it, but it is also being rented for $22 million per month.
However, he did not disclose the exact nature of the arrangement. In an interview with this publication, former shadow Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony had also questioned what the arrangements are.
“We would like to see the contract, what are the arrangements, what obligations they would continue to have going forward. How long will this contract be in place? And if in a year’s time this thing is over, what happens? Is the Government going to be reimbursed for all this investment they made into the building?” Anthony had asked.
Back in 2008, the ownership of the Ocean View Hotel had passed to local businessman Jacob Rambarran. In the run-up to the 2015 elections, Rambarran had endorsed the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. One of the contractors on the renovation is a known People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) member.