Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha yesterday afternoon visited the Morning Glory cereal factory at Anna Regina, Region Two and announced that staff will be offered full-time employment.
It was during Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit there recently to meet with rice farmers that several employees had raised concerns at the lack of employment for the last two and half years.
Jagdeo had promised to look into the situation and yesterday sent Mustapha to deliver the good news to staff members. Mustapha told the assembled employees that Jagdeo had listened to their concerns and assured them that his government is working with persons to provide employment.
Mustapha informed the staff that they will be offered full-time employment and more persons will be employed at the factory. Further, a new production manager will be hired and would likely be a resident of Region Two. At the moment staff members from the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) would visit the plant and provide technical support.
The Minister also requested a statement on the financial status of the factory and this will be provided to him by IAST. He also noted that the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) will be working with the factory to bring in more markets, while cereals will once again be offered to children through the Schools Feeding Programme.
Upon hearing the news, staff members expressed their satisfaction as they have not had a full salary since 2019 as the coronavirus measures have had a negative effort on factory operations.
“We are happy and we hope we can hear more good news, we have not gotten no increase in salary since 2018 and also we are not getting no benefits, we just show up and work and get pay” Quality officer Lalita Samsundar said.
Office Manager Indrawattie Natram expressed gratitude to Jagdeo and Mustapha for their prompt response. She said that it was something that needed to be addressed since many persons’ livelihoods were affected. Natram explained that the factory provides support to local rice farmers and also employment for over 25 persons in the region. “We are happy for this move, people will be happy and families will be comfortable and things will be back to normal.”
The factory is currently being monitored by the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), headed by acting director Deonarine Jagdeo. The Anna Regina facility has the capacity to produce 10,000 packets of cereals per week.
