As Guyana observed Labour Day, hundreds of cane cutters on Saturday morning went on strike to demand that COVID-19 safety measures be strictly enforced at the Albion Estate in Berbice, following news that at least one of them had tested positive for the virus.
Many of the workers, who gathered at the Canje Turn yesterday morning, told Sunday Stabroek that they were worried about possibly infecting their families at home. They said they decided to speak out yesterday after there were reports on Thursday that some workers had tested positive and those who came in contact with them had not been formally notified of whether they were cleared to work or not.
Albion Estate Manager Threbhowan Shiwprasad confirmed that one worker has since tested positive and is currently in insolation.
Based on information gathered, the worker, who resides in Canje, contracted the virus at a local mosque.
Shiwprasad stressed that the estate has been working closely with Regional Health Authority once workers report any symptoms or even that they are feeling unwell.
The striking workers mentioned that since the outbreak of the virus in Guyana, they have continued to go to and from work packed in trucks with more than 60 workers onboard, although the vehicles are supposed to be transporting half of that amount per trip. Some also said they were not being given sanitisers.
When questioned about the situation of the trucks, Shiwprasad noted that the estate had early on secured an additional five trucks to transport cane harvesters due to COVID-19. However, he claimed that workers would all pile into the first truck that arrives instead of adhering to the rules. He said workers also need to be disciplined enough to wait on other trucks to arrive.
One of the striking workers, Rudolph Kentolall, 46, said, “One of the staff they suspect and pull in he, then they pull in two of the cane cutters and then a next one and wah we get to understand that them get it and them still get the gang like this, over 60 abbay a deh in one lorry.”
The man pointed out that at one point hire cars were stopped from transporting three passengers in the back seat but GuySuCo’s workers continued to pile up in the lorries, “so we need to let the GuySuCo’s and government look into this thing.”
According to Kentolall, at the beginning of the crop they were given masks, while as it relates to sanitisers, “sometime you a get it and some time you na get it.”
Another worker, Kadarnauth Ramnauth, 56, said, “Management them unconcerned. Before time they used to give we sanitiser but now the sanitiser stop. Them a give awe now and then.”
He lamented that those who may have been exposed have not been sent for testing and as a result any one of them could get sick.
Ramnauth said that he believes at this stage all 312 workers in the gang should be tested. He suggested that workers be given relief while they go for tests. The man said, “Management won’t pay us to stay at home but at least if they give us the relief we can go do the test.”
Like others, Ramnauth said that he is also worried that if he is to contract COVID–19 then his family and neighbours will be at risk.
Another worker, Rabindranauth Dhanpat, 57, also felt that adequate measures have not been put in place to protect workers, which he thinks may be because they are poor people. “…Morning them carry abbay in truck. Some truck full, full and when abbay a come home back them get abbay load up in these truck here. Nobody na even check you [temperature], spray you hand or nothing. Abbay na even get no water to wash you hand or nothing,” he claimed.
Dhanpat pointed out that President Irfaan Ali often speaks of the importance of adhering to the emergency guidelines but he argued that cane harvesters cannot when they are put into such situations and without support from the corporation. “He a talk about vaccine and everything but he na send people to see what going on at GuySuCo. Let he look into this matter,” Dhanpat appealed.
“Me na want give nobody COVID-19. Me a keep away and the management need to pull up,” he added.
Hardeyal Sookraj, 45, added that it is worrying that with an increase in COVID-19 cases in the region, they still have to travel to their work locations while packed up “like sardine.”
“One boss get sick and the foreman and the workmen them get contact with the same boss. If them can find one way to send abbay to work in one more secure way or like carry this whole gang like them want get test right now,” he said.
Additionally, Sookraj said that if they are to remain at home to get tested or to quarantine then “lockdown the estate and give abbay ration for a couple week and na come out to mingle because this thing get serious between abbay this.”
Another worker, Kuldip Balkissoon, pointed out that smaller companies have embarked on rotating workers “and look after (workers) in the right way but if you see how much abbay a deh in the truck morning and afternoon.”
An upset Balkissoon said, “When election time, sugar worker a one of the best people pon the land of Guyana and when them done win election sugar worker na nobody.”
The elderly man said that it is disheartening to know that despite how hard they work daily they are not being protected and looked after against COVID-19.
“Me got me wife, we got me daughter, me got me grand pickney a house. Abbay safety me a talk about here.”
The man even said that the police should enforce the law and ensure that trucks are not overloaded and that passengers are always wearing masks. “Some a them na wear mask and when you talk, them cuss you about your mother.”
However, their estate manager, Shiwprasad, yesterday morning also made a plea to workers to always wear their face masks, sanitise and social distance. Contrary to the workers claim, the estate manager said that workers are provided with sanitising agents and water to wash their hands.
The workers called for President Ali to look into the situation as they stressed that their health and that of their families are presently at risk.
Meanwhile, Harvey Tombran, Regional Representative for GAWU, said, that the union and management early on had agreed to put the necessary measures in place which includes facilities for sanitising hands, the wearing of masks and the reduction of the amount of workers carried in each truck
As a result, he added that if this is not being done then the workers have a right to stand up and they will receive the support from their union.
Tombran further said that GuySuCo must come up with strategies to carry out their work with the safety of the workers on the front-burner.
