– following disappearance of four bearings worth more than $3M

GUYSUCO’s Industrial Relations Director, Jairam Pitam, as part of the GuySuCo team investigating happenings at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, yesterday revealed that following the launch of an investigation into the disappearance of four bearings worth more than $3M, a security guard who was questioned and had failed to provide appropriate answers subsequently tendered his resignation.

Pitam’s disclosure came as workers questioned how the four costly bearings, each weighing between 600 and 700 pounds and collectively valued in excess of Gy$3M, could disappear.

Workers lambasted the estate management, maintaining that removal of each bearing required the manpower of between four and five persons; and Pitam explained that after the investigation had been undertaken, the security guard, who was under much scrutiny, failed to provide substantial answers and so opted to resign from the employ of GuySuCo.

Pitam explained that the guard was summoned to appear before the investigating team once more, but failed to appear. “He never reported back, and tendered his resignation,” Pitam explained.

The Industrial Relations Director also explained that the current situation at the estate, where several workers had been dismissed, is being investigated.

He noted that yesterday’s meeting between the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE); and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to discuss the dismissal of the workers came to an inconclusive end at the Ministry of Labour, and has consequentially been rescheduled for June 17.

Pitam said there has been only three reported cases of dismissal; two being foremen and one a supervisor. He also said that the report by workers that GuySuCo is “spitefully” dismissing workers as their retirement approach, so as not to have to pay them gratuity and pension, is “plainly wrong.”

He explained that the two dismissed foremen are in their thirties, which is nowhere close to their retirement age, and he added that their years or service do not yet qualify them for gratuity.

He assured that GuySuCo has historically never dismissed any worker without substantial reason, and said the corporation would never engage in that practice at any time in the future.

“GuySuCo will never deny workers their benefits in that manner (through dismissal) without causable reasons,” Pitam avowed.

Following the workers’ recent dismissal, co-workers proceeded on strike to register their disapproval of the estate management’s decision, but GuySuCo, in a recent statement, disclosed that although the corporation realises that approximately half of the junior staff establishment attached to the field and factory has been on strike demanding reinstatement of their colleagues, GuySuCo wishes to advise the striking employees that it would not review its position, because of the seriousness of the offences allegedly committed. The Corporation also called on the striking workers to immediately cease their industrial action and return to work.

(By Ravin Singh)