Dear Editor,
Based on the recent picketing by the minibus operators, it’s a relief to see the operators picketing for a reduction in gas prices, instead of fare increase. I would not agree to one article in the dailies: that for over a decade, there has not been a raise in bus fare.
A short drop fare is supposed to be $60, but during the PPP/C era, the fare was increased to $80; and sadly, on the West Coast of Demerara, it was $100. At certain hours they demand that, and some so called ‘shine buses’ charge three hundred instead of two hundred dollars.
However, instead of calling for a fare increase, they are calling for reduction; which is fair enough, because I am sure they are aware of the conditions of people’s wages in society today.
Editor, not too long ago, I penned a letter about the wages and working conditions in places especially on the West Coast, and immediately after, I heard some official had visited a certain place I mentioned.
Now I am not hearing of any development at these places, and it should be noted that many places are still underpaying staff with threat of things hard, people looking for jobs and people want work.
Now, most shop girls are working above the seven or eight hours’ shift for a measly $1000 or $1200. I know definitely $1200 is the most being paid all over, especially in Berbice and West Coast of Demerara. What is even more disgusting is that they are forced to work whole day on Saturdays and Sundays for the same day’s pay, and they are given a day off during the week.
Now, that is not the only atrocity being committed against the working public, but in Guyana, it seems as though your job designation has a different meaning. Most places you go to, including some Government Ministries, you will find the security guard querying your purpose, calling to verify etc. Some have to either direct or escort you. The only part short of them being called guard-receptionist is them not answering the telephones.
Security has a whole new meaning here for me. You visit a store, the employees have to sweep and wipe. They have to fetch, pack, measure, and do a lot of extra work that is extended beyond their duty of sales girl/boy. They should have been given the cleaner’s salary and also the handyman’s/porter’s salaries because they are doing those jobs.
When this Government took over, their first agenda was to award themselves a huge salary increase, citing that will ease the corruption; but we are still hearing of allegations. They are allowed free living, some of them paying a huge rent a month that an average man cannot earn whole year. Their allowances are more than a month’s salary for anyone, and to top it off, round off any Minister’s salary to the hundred thousand and still the man doing a decent job not getting enough to match the change in a Minister’s salary.
One would only have to watch at what is taking place and make one’s own assumption and realise we are only living on promises whilst we are decaying.
Sincerely,
Sahadeo Bates
