More than 300 former employees of the defunct Diamond Sugar Estate turned up to uplift their severance benefits at the Diamond Secondary School today as emotions ran high on “the ending of an era” of sugar cultivation on the East Bank of Demerara estate.
A similar exercise last Tuesday was rescheduled to today after the union representing the workers raised several questions regarding the payment. In total, over $209M was paid to the 381 sugar workers – 41 of whom had to make queries. The exercise ran smoothly with only a few hiccups as many workers said that they were happy to uplift their payments since they have been fighting their case through the union for months. Many said too they had sought other employment.
Initially, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) had taken the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to court over the issue but compromised after the intervention of President Bharrat Jagdeo who pledged the severance payout. GAWU then discontinued the court proceedings.
Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud told the large gathering today that government recognized that the issue needed to be concluded and he said that the matter was sorted out speedily after last Tuesday’s hitch. GAWU made legitimate claims regarding the payout and as such he advised the chairman of the board and management of GuySuCo that the event should be rescheduled, the Minister recalled. GuySuCo could not afford the intervention on its own and Jagdeo in his willingness to resolve the matter, held several discussions with the heads of the Corporation and GAWU, he said.
Persaud told the fathers at today’s activity that they had earned the monies owed to them. The payout should be used to build and start another phase in their lives, he said urging them to spend wisely. He advised the fathers at today’s forum to seek to become better fathers or better men in society noting that those in the industry must live up to their responsibilities and play their respective roles as fathers.
Today’s payout brought to an end “a particular chapter in the Diamond leg of the sugar industry,” the Minister said expressing appreciation to those who contributed to the operations at Diamond.
He said too that for those workers interested in continuing to serve the industry, there are jobs available at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) estate on the ECD. GuySuCo is facing “a labour deficit, we still cannot get enough workers as we need,” said the Minister. “The industry needs your skill, service and commitment,” he told the workers. GuySuco will meet with the workers to facilitate rehiring arrangements. “If they are going to turn around the industry…we need every single hand on deck, we need everyone in the field, in the factory to move the industry forward,” Persaud appealed.
He said that this year, the corporation is working to achieve the production target of 300,000 tonnes or more and he expressed confidence that the figure can be achieved once every worker makes a contribution to the industry.
Persaud said that attention will be paid to issues regarding the management of GuySuco, where there is a need for improvement. In addition, he said that in terms of the financial arrangements at GuySuCo, corruption and inefficiencies will be rooted out.
Meanwhile, GAWU’s General Secretary Seepaul Narine, who spoke earlier, described today’s event as exciting. It will change or create a new destiny for the sugar workers, he said while advising the workers to use their benefits wisely, by placing them in bank accounts or to open an account at the GAWU credit union.
Narine said he was happy the issue has come to an end. He pointed out that it was recognized that the workers were entitled to severance benefits and he expressed surprise that the Ministry of Labour did not support the workers or the union.
Rajendra Singh, deputy CEO of GuySuCo, in brief remarks, said that those who contributed to the operations at the Diamond Estate over the years did well and he noted that the corporation continued to look forward to their services in the near future.
Sad
Long serving sugar worker, Ammon Alexander, who worked at the Diamond Estate for more than 32 years told Stabroek News that he was happy to receive his benefits but he noted that it “was sad how the estate at Diamond was closed…it’s a sad day for me because it means the industry at Diamond is gone for good,” the soft-spoken man said. He pointed out that many persons declined the offer to work at LBI as many viewed travelling there as difficult. He noted however, that he will continue to work with the sugar corporation at LBI.
Another worker Safraz Bux, who has worked at the Diamond Estate for more than 16 years, also expressed happiness on receiving his severance benefits payment. According to him, he will continue to serve GuySuCo since it is the only job in which he can function. Bux said that he has children and he will continue to work hard in order to provide for them.
Meantime, Persaud said that GuySuCo will put on its website all records relating to the establishment of the Enmore packaging facility for anyone who wishes to review same. He stated that this is being done in the interest of the government and the people to ensure that the corporation exhibits the highest level of accountability. He made the statement in light of chartered accountant Christopher Ram’s attempt to audit the corporation’s dealings with regards to the facility. The audit was stymied based on advice provided to the government by the Auditor General.
