It was business as usual yesterday at the South Drain (Suriname) and Moleson Creek (Guyana) terminals, with Surinamese customs officers returning to the job in full force.

But their counterparts in Paramaribo had up to 1400h Suriname time not returned to work, resulting in government and union officials being locked in intense negotiations.

By press time however, reports from the Dutch country stated that at the request of President Ronald Venetiaan, it has been agreed that the industrial action would be suspended for one week.

President Venetiaan had appointed former Minister of Education during the 80s, Harold Rusland, as mediator to facilitate talks between government and unions, and according to the Chronicle source, Rusland reportedly has presented parties with two options to resolve the issues.

The source said during a meeting of the Confederation of Public Servant’s Unions (COL), members agreed to allow government a couple of days to work things out and if after one week there is no tangible progress towards a resolution, the strike action will resume.

For two weeks high school teachers, customs officers, fire fighters and waste collectors downed their tools in a dispute with the government over discrepancies within a newly introduced salary scheme for the public sector. Numerous public servants have been negatively affected by the new salary structure and are enraged over the salary cuts.

Yesterday, with a full resumption by Customs Officers at South Drain, the M.V. Canawaima sailed from that berth at approximately 1100h Suriname time (1000h Guyana time) with 56 passengers and three vehicles aboard.

It departed the Moleson Creek terminal with 42 passengers and six vehicles, according to Ms Louise Williams, manager at the Moleson Creek port.

Guyana’s Director/Secretary of the Canawaima Ferry Service, Mr. Ronald Charles, had last week expressed concern over the loss of revenue as a result of ad hoc sailing arrangements of the ferry which had to be put in place during the industrial action of the customs officers on the Dutch side.

He said the officers had to be coerced to work, and whenever they did, had made it clear that they were not breaking ranks with their striking colleagues, but were instead working out of compassion.

During last week and up to Sunday, the operations at the South Drain berth were manned by a lone officer, the Customs Chief.