Dear Editor,
We are guards employed by the United Associates Security and Domestic Services (UASDS) in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and are very perturbed by some developments here
To begin with, we are constantly receiving our salaries very late and for January 2008, we have not been paid although it is the end of the month.
Whenever we express our dissatisfaction over this system, we are threatened with dismissal or other forms of penalty.
We are all poor people who depend on our income to maintain our families, and cannot afford to lose our jobs, so we have to suffer in silence.
In addition to this, we were recently informed that UASDS may no longer be awarded the contract at sites in this region after the end of February 2008. A representative from UASDS is encouraging the guards to strike in protest against the new company that will replace UASDS. Fortunately, we ignored his call and no one turned up to support it. The representative, Mr Ramnarine is still trying to persuade us to picket the office of the Region Two Administration on March 1st 2008, but we will not do so.
We are convinced that the new company, Kanhai’s Security Service, will provide us with better benefits.
Our woes have been compounded by the fact that we have never benefited from an increase in salaries since 1994, despite the steep increase in the cost of living. Also, monies are deducted from our salaries to pay NIS dues, but we were reliably informed that these amounts have not been paid to the NIS.
There is also a ‘Voluntary Savings Scheme’ in which $500 per month is deducted from our earnings, but many of us are still to receive our money. Whenever we ask about the money, the threat of dismissal is used to keep us quiet.
Can the Ministry of Labour look into this matter?
Yours faithfully,
C Lovell for Security
Guards in Region Two
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to the United Associates Security and Domestic Services for their comments and received the following response from Mr Anstill Ogle, Admin/Operations Coordinator:
“Thank you for the opportunity to offer clarification relative to a letter intended for publication. An investigation was conducted immediately on receiving your missive hence my response was delayed.
I am convinced it was a malicious act to plant such a letter in the press since none of our Security Officers are aware of the plot to “protest” consequent to termination of our security contract.
This Company and the Administration of Region 2 have enjoyed a very cordial and professional relationship and we understand their position regarding several issues including approval for payment for service and most recently, the handpicked award of the contract to Strategic Security Service.
For the entire year 2007, several Regions have short paid us, totalling $10,824,761.00. Region 2 accounts for the largest sum, being $5,146,496.00.
While this is worthy of protest, we sought amicable methods to resolve this through Mr Seewchan, the pre-occupied Acting Perm-anent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government.
The Regional Admin-istration has also penned several requests to him in our interest as well, but to no avail. The Security Officers are however receiving wages without us collecting the matching income.
I have to commend the Accounting Unit of the Region since payments for service though short, are often prompt. It is therefore unlikely that wages are made available late.
Senior Officers from Georgetown conduct routine visits to our Regions where meetings are held with subordinates, they also telephone our Head Office to lodge complaints. Any grievances raised by them are addressed accordingly in a timely manner.
The saving scheme referred to is no longer in effect. Reimbursement of funds is an ongoing process in phases.
We are guided by a timetable and each Divisional Commander is aware. Any special request made outside of the current arrangement is treated by its merit.
I share the concern regarding NIS contributions since they are misguided by the attention a particular media house gives to it. We are proud that NIS is aware of our efforts to liquidate arrears and considers us compliant.
It is unfortunate that Security Officers have not benefited from an across-the-board wages increase since 1994.
We commenced service in November 2000 and received no increase from the Government. We continue to offer performance-based increases and incentives to our best Officers every November.
The Company deemed the signatory (C Lovell) an undesirable and severed relations with him. He is indeed a suitable candidate in such capacity since the designated service provider now employs him. I suggest he encourage the authors to research before approving the use of his name.”
