One hundred and thirty-two Oldendorff Carriers Guyana Inc (OCGI) workers are to be laid off following the company’s decision to pull the plug on its operations.
The company made the announcement yesterday afternoon in a statement to the press. The move comes months after Russian-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) announced the suspension of its operations.
OCGI is the company contracted to ship and transport bauxite from BCGI’s mines at Kurubuka in Region 10.
Explaining its decision, the company in the statement said BCGI, which is a subsidiary of Russian Aluminum (RUSAL), did not extend the operational contract with OCGI. “Unfortunately, OCGI’s customer in Guyana has decided to suspend and mothball its operation in Guyana and thus not to extend the operational contract with OCGI. Consequently, OCGI is forced to wind down operations in Guyana.”
The statement went on to explain that the company has dispatched correspondence to the office of the Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and to the workers’ union and plans to work closely with the Chief Labour Officer “to ensure that the wind-down is done in accordance with Guyanese law.”
The company disclosed that it will work along with the government and other stakeholders to redeploy employees affected by the wind-down.
“It is with the deepest regret that OCGI must close its operations in Guyana. Over the past 15 years, OCGI has developed a very dedicated and loyal workforce who have performed very well, often under difficult conditions,” the statement said.
OCGI added that it was very proud of what it has achieved together with its employees in Guyana and has had wonderful working relationships with the people of Guyana, particularly in New Amsterdam and up the Berbice River, “and the company is truly sad to leave this beautiful country.”
In early February, RUSAL fired 326 of workers and announced the suspension of its operations after citing its inability to produce due to the continuing obstruction of traffic in the Berbice River.
The layoffs, which started in January, were initially done on the basis of the company claiming that it did not receive the necessary concession for duty-free importation of fuel.
The workers subsequently erected a barrier across the Berbice River to prevent BCGI vessels from using the river. As a result, barges belonging to BCGI have been docked at their wharf close to the mine site and are unable to travel to New Amsterdam to offload. At present the situation remains the same.
No vessel transporting logs and other materials along the river is being affected by the blockage.
Stabroek News understands that the barrier across the river remains in place and two barges loaded with bauxite remain docked at the mines site.
The police attempted to remove the barrier across the river and this resulted in a standoff. The police had to retreat after the residents became hostile.
