Dear Editor,
Up to not so long ago Guyana was historically acknowledged as the ‘land of many waters’. Over the past two years some sceptics, however playfully in reference to their unremitting flows, commented on the riverain ‘Grants’ – to the Regions, more so Region 6 (New Amsterdam excluded). However, the accuracy or otherwise of this observation can by no means be justified in the absence of any related provision in Budget 2022 – which omits reference to the substantive Office of Vice-President – a senior actor in the ‘grant’ delivery process; and related durability of employment – the actual quote being ‘many, many years’.
Unfortunately, at this critical point in the Parliamentary debate, there is reported the absence of representation that should normally insist on appropriate accountability, including comparability of ‘granted’ millions across the Regions, and of course the respective justifications therefor. One exceptional instance would relate to sugar workers whose services were terminated by the previous Administration, and were compensated as follows:
i. Union agreed Severance Pay
ii. Voluntarily imposed grants
iii. Re-employment on Region Six Estates
This exemplary model of compensation has not been substantively commented on – neither as an accounting nor legal issue, that may well come back to haunt future generations of decision-makers, even in a CARICOM Partnership context. Would this be an industrial relations precedent on which the CCJ might have to rule on?
Sincerely,
E.B. John
