“We are a community already stripped and struggling to lift our heads again and injustices continue to rip our hearts out,” lamented a security guard attached to Kanhai Security Services working in Region 10.
This is the cry resonating from approximately twenty security guards working in communities along the Berbice River, including Ituni and Kwakwani.
During a visit to Ituni yesterday Stabroek News was confronted with the issue of non-payment of wages to the security guards.
They said that they have not been paid for two months amidst threats because they have been complaining to regional leaders. “I get a call only this morning and is threatening ah get,” said a guard who declined to have her name mentioned in fear of victimization.
The team of security guards in Ituni, ranging from ages 19 years to 77 years, disclosed touching details of the dire hardship they are facing.
One of the oldest security guards said that she managed to fight off a thief who attempted to break and enter the school where she was working at the time. “We putting our lives at risk and this is what we getting in return,” said the aged woman, adding that since the incident she is still emotionally shaken. “I can’t work tonight, I can’t miss,” said the woman as she broke down in tears.
When Stabroek News caught up with one guard, she had just obtained credit from a nearby shop. “Look is half pound sugar, a pint of rice and lil kerosene oil I just trust, how meh God.”
Another guard who was also very emotional and in tears cried out for urgent help. “My tears are for my daughter, miss reporter, she ask me this morning about her going to school on Monday and it broke me down to tell her I can’t send her,” said the woman. Her teenage child is a resident student at Kwakwani Secondary School preparing for CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) exams in 2013.
Besides the issue of non-payment of wages, the guards are faced with the problem of being underpaid.
They said that they were reliably informed that they should be paid $140 per hour but are being paid $120. This was confirmed by Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon who was in the area at the time.
Kissoon said that when contacted yesterday about the issues facing the guards, Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda Gopaul said that the matter has been brought to his attention and is being investigated.
The member of parliament said that according to the minister, the complaint came from several parts of Region 10 where the security service operates.
“An investigation was launched by the Ministry of Labour and he says they are investigating the books of the firm,” Kissoon said. The matter of the guards being underpaid is also being investigated.
“What he (Dr Gopaul) said to me is if the reports are correct the guards will be paid retroactively as of June,” Kissoon said.
Contact was also made with the head of the security service, Mr. Kanhai, who confirmed the non-payment of the workers for July and August.
He stated that 90% of the workers in the region had been paid to date with the exception of those in the Berbice River area.
Kanhai blamed the unrest at Linden which he said resulted in the RDC office being unable to release payments to him.
“We are trying to source some money right now to pay those workers,” Kanhai said.
“Now while he waiting on sourcing money to pay the people where de people getting money for the daily living,” said a resident.
In the meantime, residents are exploring the possibility of the community taking on the responsibility for security services at Ituni.
