…Region 5 REO evicts staffers from headquarters in compound
Scores of guards attached to Integrated Security Service held a picketing demonstration outside of the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) building in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) as they pleaded with the Council to terminate the contract of the security firm which has not paid them for months.
The guards said on Wednesday they were at the breaking point and some of them were not even paid their salaries since December 2017. Even as the guards were seeking the support of the regional administration, REO Ovid Morrison ordered that with immediate effect, they stop using a section of the RDC as an office because of their protest action.
The guards withdrew their services from several key agencies in the region to support a call for the regional administration to terminate the contract with the company to provide security to schools, hospitals and other Government agencies.
Some of the guards told heart-rending stories. Katty Fraser, a mother of two, said her daughter is currently hospitalised but she has no money to supply her needs.
Another guard Vernetta LaRose, a mother of eight, who resides at Number 22 Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, said they were told that they must open an account at a specific commercial bank in order for their salaries to be paid into an account at that bank.
“Some of us have loans at other banks and our salary would normally go into that bank. When some people go till to New Amsterdam to draw their money, some get $16,000. Some draw $10,000. The highest is $20,000 for the whole month and some people only get $4000.”
Meanwhile, Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal expressed concern over the situation, noting some of the difficulties the guards are forced to endure. Ramphal also noted the uncaring way the REO, Ovid Morrison, has treated the issue even going to the extent of chasing some of the affected guards out of the RDC boardroom. The guards had gone there to speak with the Regional Chairman seeking the intervention of the RDC.
“My office would have engaged the CEO [Chief Executive Officer] of the company and he made a promise to pay all the guards in a timely manner, however, until today they have not received their full payment. We all know that it is very difficult for our people since many of them have children to take care of, some of them have loans and other financial commitments and when they cannot have their salaries on time it affects the people, the region, the school children and every single one.”
Ramphal said he is hoping that Government will step in and do what is right by ensuring that the people of that region are treated fairly. The issue, he noted, was not one which had to do with race, politics or religion but rather the well-being of citizens.
“Our poor working class people are not being threaded fairly in this region and so there is a need for much more unity and cooperation in Region Five to address all these issues that are affecting people,” Ramphal said.
Back in January the guards had been reaching out to regional representatives seeking assistance. Those who were seen during that protest on television or in local newspapers were either send home or suspended. Back then they were considered standing alone except for some support they got from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
However, on Wednesday, PPP Member of Parliament Harry Gill vowed to take the fight to the security company on behalf of the guards.
Meanwhile, AFC executive member Abel Seetaram met with the protesters and vowed to address the issue when the RDC meets today. He said all efforts will be made to see if the contract between the regional administrations has a clause which allows it to be terminated at any time and use that to free the guards from the oppression. Seetaram said the company received $40 million advance to pay the workers from December, while noting that some of the guards claim they are still owed part of their December salary as well as January and February.
