As the furore continues regarding the Marriott Hotel construction and the controversy about Guyanese workers not being allowed employment, members of the Opposition and prominent labour leaders yesterday staged a picketing exercise outside the Kingston work site and reported that the Chinese workers were doing menial tasks like fetching sand.
Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda K Gopaul on Wednesday reported to this newspaper of making a site visit, defending the use of the Chinese workers to do technical work Guyanese workers are yet to gain knowledge of.
Last week, CEO of Atlantic Hotels Inc Winston Brassington stated that Guyanese workers were less favoured because they were not efficient enough. Brassington said too that the Chinese company building theUS$51 million hotel – Shanghai Construction Group – offered a lower price for the flexibility of controlling who works at the site.
At a protest outside of the Marriott Hotel construction site in Kingston yesterday, APNU Vice-Chairman and Member of Parliament Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said that contrary to what the Government is saying, there are non-technical jobs being done at the site.
“We are talking about the Government having entered into an agreement that specifically denies Guyanese the right to work. This is unconscionable, it is unconstitutional and I am hoping that the Attorney General [Anil Nandlall] who sets himself up as the great guardian of the Constitution will understand that what we are in the presence of here is a vile constitutional violation and we are here to demonstrate this,” said Dr. Roopnaraine.
“What we have seen on this site are Chinese workers fetching sand and doing work that is menial. I see nothing technical in what they are doing. By all means if they have technical expertise to bring and assist with the situation that is fine. But we are not talking about a technical cadre of workers. We are talking about a situation where work at all levels is being denied the Guyanese,” he pointed out.
“I do not understand how you could in good conscience, in a situation with this level of unemployment in Guyana, look at a project in which considerable amounts of taxpayers’ money has been invested and sign an agreement that excludes Guyanese workers. It is a constitutional violation and a moral obscenity,” said Roopnaraine.
He said the issue of Chinese workers getting precedence over Guyanese workers is a matter that should engage the Parliament. “We should take all necessary steps with regard to the violation of the Constitution. It is a right to work issue,” he said when questioned by members of the media on the site. “The right to work is enshrined in and protected by the Constitution and we have to deal with it,” he said.
Speaking at the protest, trade unionist Norris Witter said that it is an unforgiveable abomination and a vicious assault not only on the rights of the Guyanese people but also on their psyche. “All peoples of this country, whether Indian or African, Portuguese, mixed or Chinese must stand up against this atrocity,” he said.
“I am not surprised but I am somewhat disappointed by the Minister’s (Dr. Gopaul’s) response. Imagine this Minister was once a labour leader. The question to be asked at this time is who does he represent,” he asked. “It is damning to know that it is a statement coming from the Minister of Labour.
I would wish to say that the Minister must resign forthwith. The labour movement in this country must give him hell. We must not work with him and the next picketing exercise must be in front of his office…” said Witter.
