Dear Editor,
According to your Wednesday, May 15, edition, 21 of 34 Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) employees recently failed a lie detector test and are to be dismissed, save for one who resigned. I wish first of all to point out that lie detector tests are not in the labour laws, and wish to express my dismay at the actions of the Guyana Energy Agency. This subject did not engage the attention of the Guyana Trade Union Congress, while Dr Cheddi Jagan, as President of Guyana always embraced the workers’ cause and supported their interests.
No consensus was reached by the unions and the Minister of Labour for the lie detector test to be used against workers. It is to be regretted that the GEA could not find it convenient to meet with the workers’ representative, since such a meeting would have clarified what was needed for dismissals. The public is gravely concerned about these 21 workers and the protection which should be provided by trade unions against anti-union employers.
According to the labour laws companies and unions jointly and separately declare that their agreement is intended to protect and further the well-being of both parties, and that no employee should be suspended or dismissed except by way of penalty after investigation.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
