Some 200 jobs could be created in Region Ten next year, with the opening up of a new bauxite mine among with the construction of a kiln and a dust collector, but residents feel it would take an act of God or the waving of a magic wand for the 1,000 jobs promised by the PPP/C to materialize.
The PPP/C’s presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, at the party’s October 16 rally in Linden told residents that once his party is returned to power for another term they would be guaranteed some 1,000 new jobs, especially in the bauxite industry in Region 10.
Some residents in Linden expressed had concern about the validity of the promise, while others felt its timing was an insult considering that the PPP/C-government did not take the necessary steps to ensure that these jobs were made available prior to this year’s election campaign.
Contacted, Senior Personnel Officer at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI), Vance Reid, said approximately that 200 new jobs are in the pipeline of the Linden-based bauxite industry. He said they would be realized with the opening up of a new mine at Block 37, which would see an increase in the production of bauxite and other products and the construction of a kiln in the bauxite plant at Linden. Together the two ventures are certain to create employment of 100 to 200 jobs on a long-term basis for residents of Linden, he said.
“We have the construction of the dust collector which is well in progress, which in itself would also create jobs… How many we cannot say at this point,” Reid said.
He explained that the job opportunities have been in the pipeline for some time now as part of the company’s expansion projections. He said that since BOSAI took over bauxite mining in Linden it had maintained an employment figure of 500 persons on a full-time basis, with contract and conditional employment adding another 95.
In addition, every year, the company takes on between 15 and 20 apprentices from the Linden Technical Institute (LTI). “This year we have upped that to 30,” he said. The apprentices are usually employed on a full-time basis at the end of their apprenticeship period.
Failed dismally
Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo said the promise of 1,000 new jobs was based on the premise that Bosai would venture into the production of alumina. “It doesn’t seem like Ramotar has a clue of what happens in the bauxite industry,” Mingo said. He noted that “bauxite giant” Demba did not venture into alumina production because of the amount of power it requires and said he doubted Bosai’s situation would be any different.
Mingo said that if the PPP/C was serious about job creation for Region 10 it would have ensured the success of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) job creation component by way of attracting inward investment. He said LEAP was totally under the control of the government and there was a component that from the onset had projected the creation of some 4,000 jobs, but this was later revised to 1,800 jobs. “They were successful in some other components including the LEAF [Linden Economic Advancement Fund]… some infrastructural development, [but in] that particular component – job creation — they have failed dismally.”
He said he is baffled as to why efforts for massive job creation were not made over the last 15 years when the PPP/C would have brought in both the Chinese and Russian investors. “Why they didn’t see it fit as a condition [of their engagement] when bringing in those investors, to put a ceiling or a cap on the number of persons they would have employed?” Mingo questioned. He said the government’s hands were tied because of the nature of bauxite operations and the fact that the two investors (Bosai and Rusal), had their own business plans, marketing strategy among other things which would speak to their employment levels. “The government has no control over employment in the bauxite industry,“ he reiterated.
Junior Bharrat a resident, said that he, like many other cannot be fooled by the 1,000 jobs’ promise. He recalled that the bauxite operations at Linden and Kwakwani had employed well over 6,000 workers. “When de company sizing down the PPP government came in and put de nail in de coffin,” he claimed. “Where and how in heaven’s name dey gon get de bauxite industry to create over 1,000 jobs? Dey don’t have any control over these people to make them do that.”
Bharrat added that the announcement should only be seen as a political gimmick. He alluded to the millions being expended by the government to construct roads that are substandard. “And dey got people like Handy [a local PPP/C activist] getting on de podium and telling people we must accept it.” He also said that hundreds of unemployed youths are only being offered jobs as drainage and irrigation workers, despite their excellent accomplishments at the CXC examinations and as graduates of the University of Guyana.
Social problem
But pardoned treason accused Phillip Bynoe said there are job opportunities in the agriculture and forestry sectors of the region. He opined that there is a social problem with the unemployed masses in Linden.
“The average young, unemployed, black man in Linden, few of them have CXC, have been to school and did reasonably well,” he claimed. “The others are invariably unemployed, unskilled, untrained and they are demanding a high pay and they are having preferences where they would work.”
The newly-minted PPP/C member said there seems to be confusion in the minds of persons as to the role of the Regional Democratic Council as it relates to bringing employment and encouraging investments. It is important that residents understand that government doesn’t create jobs but rather creates the conditions that would encourage private investments, he said.
Private investment is all there is, he said. “Whether it’s from Bosai, whether it’s from Rusal, from the forestry sector, agriculture sector or ICT sector, they all are going to be private sector in nature.”
He said he is aware that the PPP/C government has created the conditions for more jobs in the forestry, agriculture and ICT sectors while there are ongoing discussions in the bauxite mining sector.
According to Bynoe, Bosai is currently looking at an investment in the oil industry, which, once realized, has the potential of creating approximately 600 jobs. Rusal on the other hand, has indicated its intent to use its Berbice River mines as the main source of supplying markets around the world, and this is likely to come on stream within another 18 months. And once this is realized it can double the local workforce, he added.
“If that comes about you are talking about the increase of about four to five hundred jobs, so just those two areas alone over the next 12 to 18 months we are expecting about 1,000 jobs to be created in the bauxite industry,” Bynoe said.
With respect to the forestry sector, the government of the day has done a number of things, he said. Between 2010 and now Region Ten community forestry groups have received in excess of 660,000 acres of prime forested land located mainly in the Berbice River, he said. Most of the land is accessed by the UNAMCO trail which is in dire need of rehabilitation and discussions have already commenced with the government to this effect.
The area is known for its bountiful supply of greenheart and purpleheart. “If this road is fixed and this situation comes on stream we can safely see the creation of 1,500 to 2,000 jobs in one year in the forestry sector and that is only the primary aspect of it,” Bynoe said. The secondary aspect speaks to the utilization of the recently commissioned kiln drying facility which has the potential to see a boom in making available seasoned lumber for building and furniture manufacturing in Linden. “We are expecting an upsurge in cabinet making and joinery which means that artisans in Linden can now access proper material,” he added.
Bynoe also made reference to the possible creation of jobs in the ICT sector and in the housing drive that is rapidly developing in Linden.
Playing games
Meantime, several residents from different backgrounds in Linden, who opted not to be named, said they felt that it was an insult to the people of Linden to make the announcement at this time and they see it as a strategy of drawing support for the party for the upcoming national and regional elections.
“Politicians have this way of playing games with people’s livelihood in this place. We struggling so hard for years, hundreds of children coming out of school and UG every year with nothing to do and they got big qualifications. All this time they could have done what they are trying to do now,” said one resident.
Another said that if the government was really serious about it would not have waited until the election period to make this announcement. “What they would have really done was as soon as they see the possibility they would have let people know what was in the pipeline, we take this as an insult,” the resident said.
Interim Management Committee Chairman Orrin Gordon in a recent letter to the editor published in the Stabroek News of Oct 21, said he was alarmed at the statement made by the PPP/C presidential candidate about a projected 150 per cent increase in employment in the bauxite industry in Linden and Aroaima in Berbice.
“Whilst this is desirable and a commendable motive for any of the political parties on the hustings, it is imperative that we do not pontificate and prognosticate on such sensitive and serious issues in our communities because of the historical underpinnings,” said Gordon in his letter.
He added that bauxite has traditionally been the main economic pillar for communities in Region 10. “Still, it is the single largest employment entity in the community save and except for the government and quasi-government entities.”
Like other residents Gordon said the 1,000 jobs statement was an insult to residents’ intelligence and communal space.
“I will also exhort the opposition politicians including the APNU not to come to this community nor go to any other with such effrontery and make believe since for many of us it is insensitive and flaming debauchery. All people in this country must be treated with respect and not as minions you throw anything to,” Gordon asserted.
Nolan Walton, a resident and member of the Linden Chamber of Commerce Industry and Development (LCCID), speaking in a private capacity, said the need for jobs has been with Linden for decades. “Why is it now at elections time the government sees it fit to say it can provide Region Ten with 1,000 jobs? Why has this not been happening all the time?” questioned Walton. He said he could not give any credence to any candidate saying so at this time, especially one who represents a government which has been in power for more than ten years. “So how come now we can get 1,000 jobs, and where; oh my God, where would we be getting 1,000 jobs from?”
According to Walton the bauxite industry is at a stage where they are claiming that they are not making much profit. “I guess Mr Ramotar has to really explain why the jobs weren’t here before and how come we gon get them now,” he added.
He said putting pressure at this stage on the bauxite industry is tantamount to “asking God for a miracle. This is just like wishful thinking and I don’t think anybody should take Mr Ramotar serious on that.”
While not speaking for the LCCID, Walton said that as a member the organisation he sees the need for jobs as critical in Region Ten as there has been a lack over the years.
Moreover, concerns were expressed about the Linden/Lethem road.
According to Walton, putting this road in place would open up a “whole new ball game” where jobs for locals are concerned.
“That to me is more important and they could have been doing that all the time because for long the Brazilian people are behind the Guyana Government to get the road to a state where they can use it in the way they want to… Maybe Mr Ramotar has a magic wand because I can’t see what he is talking about.”
