As investigations continue into a million-dollar Money Order fraud at the Guyana Post Office (GPOC) Corporation, the union representing workers in this sector has threatened industrial action if the management of the GPOC does not retract statements made in a recent press release.
During a press conference on Friday, President of the Guyana Postal and Telecom-munication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) Harold Shepherd said the press statement issued on the fraud by the GPOC was damaging to workers in the industry and contradicted agreements made during bilateral discussions. According to Shepherd, Port Kaituma Post Office, which is at the centre of this matter, has been a problematic one for some time. He accused the management of the GPOC of failing to adequately address the issue. He said that a senior official at this post office has been questioned by the police and was released on bail.
On Thursday, the GPOC, in a press statement, said that “nineteen postmasters and staff members of the finance department at the Guyana Post Office Corporation are under investigations for Money Order Fraud in excess of $ 1 million.“ The fraud was reportedly early in October.
According to the release, apart from the Port Kaituma Post Office, the others under investigation are Anna Regina, Bartica, Mahaica, Wales, Vreed-en-hoop, Fort Wellington, Kitty, Campbellville, Bagotville, Queenstown, East La Penitence, Soesdyke, Rosignol, Charles-town, Bourda, Charity, Grove and Parika.
“Initial meetings with members of the finance department and members of the reconciliation team were convened on October 13,” the release stated. According to the Corpo-ration, the Postmasters in question were invited to a meeting with the presence of the President and General Secretary of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers’ Union as well as a representative from the Public Service Union on October 22.
According to the release, “the Board of Directors has expressed its disgust at the level of dishonesty that has become evident within the ranks of the organization over the period and continues to work assiduously with the corporation to provide a service based on high levels of integrity, professionalism and excellence.”
Shepherd, however, said that during discussions with the GPOC, the corporation said that they were prepared to settle the matter internally and that the consequent actions by the management were in “bad faith”. He said that he expected the GPOC to stick to the measures agreed as they attempted to recoup the amount that was stolen.
The amount stolen is reportedly said to be $1, 114,000, Shepherd disclosed.
The union president said that if the GPOC does not retract the statement within 72 hours the union is prepared to take industrial action.
