Berbice workers thankful for severance package
Workers wait to receive their severance cheque at the Rose Hall Canje Estate
Workers wait to receive their severance cheque at the Rose Hall Canje Estate

WORKERS at the Skeldon, Rose Hall, Enmore and Wales estates on Monday received severance payments in keeping with a promise made to them by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last Thursday.

In East Berbice, the 3000 plus workers, mainly cane harvesters, started lining up at the respective pay offices in Skeldon and Canje early Monday to uplift their monies. Senior staff members received their severance pay on Wednesday.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, many of the workers thanked the Government for keeping its word on making the payments and are eagerly looking forward to the fulfilment of other promises made.

“I just want to thank the President and the Government fuh keeping they word and I happy fuh this lil money, at least I get something in me hand now and I can decide what to do with it,” one of the workers said.

Many others have heeded the call for patience and confidence in the Government by the Prime Minister, who assured the workers in Berbice that the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) is working with 80 plus investors to find jobs for them.

“We want you to have confidence in the Government that we will not abandon you, we will not cut you loose and we will work on all fronts to bring about some benefits so you can start meaningful activities in your life and for your family,” the Prime Minister had promised.

Ramsingh Sahadeo, 45, who worked half of his life as a cane harvester, said he is pleased the Government honoured its promise despite receiving only half of the severance package due to him. He is optimistic the Government will pay the remainder in due course.

“The Prime Minister and Sharma tell abee straight up what was happening and the PPP only been a fool abee all the time, nothing can’t happen overnight. Moses promise them guh pay this week and them pay. They promise them a wuk fuh get people to tek over the estate in Skeldon and get jobs fuh we so abee gah try but til that happen but I believe in them cause them tell abee straight up.”

Jainarine Temal, a cane harvester for 20 years, was accompanied by his wife to uplift his severance cheque. Like many others, he too is satisfied and is thankful to the Government, pointing out that the money will go a long way in helping his family.

He however raised concern over the amount as it did not reflect his 20 years of service. Temal noted he will now have to bring the issue to management to be “straightened out”.

HOPEFUL

Jagdesh Ramdhari, 50, told Guyana Chronicle he is pleased to collect his cheque but is saddened over the estate closure and is hopeful that all the workers can find employment soon.

“It is very hard, but we gotta try. If the wuk deh you nah ah mind wuk but if you nah ah get the work money nah deh so me ah just hope,” he said.

Jagdesh Ramdhari

Ramdhari related that he was told that he would be paid for his services at the Skeldon Sugar Estate for the last 20 years but was disappointed when he saw the amount he was paid.

“I work since 1990 but meh had a problem and I went in jail for two years but when meh come out and guh back to work them say meh gon continue… them at the meeting even tell me I will be paid from since 1990 but me nah know what happen,” the cane harvester said, pointing out that he will query it with the estate’s management.

Amid massive bailouts and huge losses, the Government has taken a decision to close the Rose Hall, Skeldon, Enmore and Wales estates and concentrate on the Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion estates in a bid to re-vitalise the sugar industry and make it profitable again.

DIVERSIFICATION

The plan seeks to concentrate on the three estates and diversify the industry by getting into aquaculture, dairy, fruits crops and rice cultivation, in addition to sugar production.

Testament of the Government’s plan to move ahead is the advertising of tenders for reinforced concrete bridges and all weather roads at the Albion Estate.

With the closures, it was anticipated that close to 9,000 workers would have been on the breadline; however, the Government was able to reduce the figure by more than half by absorbing the employees through the various ministries and the remainder were issued letters of redundancy with full compensation based on years of service.

Government has taken a decision to honour full payments to workers whose severance package is $500,000 and lower while those above will receive 50 per cent before month-end and the remainder in the second half of the year.

With many workers expressing a desire to invest their benefits, Government has set up two ‘Business, Financial and Investment Forums’ and four ‘Coaching Clinics’ in collaboration with the Ministry of Business for the former workers so that they can be guided accordingly.

The forum is a part of the ‘Economic Resilience’ component of the ‘Sustainable Communities Programme’ for the sugar industry.

Clinics will be held on February 5, at the Enmore Community Centre; February 6, at the Wales Community Centre; February 7 at the Rose Hall Community Centre; and February 8 at the Skeldon Community Centre.

The clinics are expected to held between 09:00hrs– 03:30hrs.

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