PLEASE permit me to respond to a news item as reported by Ms Jeune Bailey Van-Keric, which was published under the title, “$6M Post Office robbery…Postmistress dismissed, other staffers charged departmentally” in the Guyana Chronicle dated Saturday December 12, 2009.

Firstly, before I go into the specifics permit me on behalf of the Executives of the Guyana Postal and Telecommunication Workers’ Union (GPTWU) to state categorically that Ms Chandrawatie Sukdeo, former Postmistress of Rose Hall Town Post Office was not dismissed because of the non-adherence to any security measures, but rather because and according to the management of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Ms Sukdeo absented herself from duty and failed to communicate with them since the 8th day of November, 2009 and they have concluded that she has voluntarily terminated her contract of employment with the Corporation.

To begin with, on 31st July, 2009 all systems put in place by the management of GPOC were adhered to by the former Postmistress. It should also be noted that the management of GPOC were the ones who were negligent in the discharge of their duties. Had they been proactive, the events that unfolded would have been totally different.

After the robbery, the management of the GPOC decided that Ms Sukdeo must report to the Human Resource Department in Georgetown everyday. Sukdeo who lives at Reliance, East Canje, Berbice, had to pay $3,000 daily as return fare.

The Postmistress thereafter asked management to report instead to the Area Manager or Chief Postmaster at the New Amsterdam Post Office. That request was never approved.

What happened during the period was that Ms. Sukdeo was on medical leave and after not submitting the last medical certificate in a timely manner; management decided that it amounted to voluntary termination of employment.

It must be known that at no one time was Mr. Juan Edghill, Chairman of the GPOC’s Board or the Management of the Post Office Corporation able with certainty to conclude that Ms Sudkeo was negligent in the execution of her duties as Postmistress at the time of the robbery. Neither was anyone charged departmentally. What should be known, however, is that the Management of GPOC is more reactive rather than proactive.
ESLYN HARRIS
General Secretary