A REPORT carried on a People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-run website, describing an “Economic downturn” in Guyana’s economy as the reason for several multi-million dollar companies being forced to lay off staff, has been described as a “fabrication” by at least two of the four companies being implicated.The website, http://progressiveradionews.com on July 2, 2015 carried an article with the headline, “Economic downturn forces huge layoffs by big companies,” implicating Guyana Stores Limited, Muneshwers Limited, Gafoors and Laparkan.

According to the article, earlier in July the party (PPP) had warned of the consequences our country and economy face as a result of the “confrontational approach adopted by the APNU+AFC defacto Government.”
They urged the Government to end the alleged “Witch-hunting and the arbitrary dismissals” of public servants, as well as the “reign of intimidation and fear” now gripping our country.
Additionally, the party stated that they warned that “triumphalist and insensitive chatter” such as Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s “not being distracted” comment, will only serve to “throw salt in the wounds” of the thousands who are still “traumatized” as a result of them being “cheated electorally.”
“We posited that such insensitive statements from a man who is responsible for the economy of Guyana can have a far-reaching and negative impact on the productive forces in the most dynamic sectors of the country’s economy,” the article further stated.
Following this was statistical representation to prove the PPP’s case that the “downturn” had forced the companies which for many years provided employment for hundreds of Guyanese, to downsize staff. The numbers as were recorded were; Gafoors – 70 employees; Laparkan – 35 employees; Guyana Stores Limited – 30 employees; and Muneshwers Limited – 35 employees.
But according to the four companies, this had been a complete misrepresentation of facts and seemed to be a political stunt.
Offering a comment to defend the position of Muneshwers Limited, one of the directors, Robin Muneshwer asserted that the report of 35 employees being laid off was far from the truth and appeared to be a mere fabrication. He explained that the company engages in business and not politics and as such, “will not be used for propaganda purposes.”

He argued that the article has “no merit and no basis,” since no effort was ever made to contact the company to confirm whether any staff had been laid off. The director re-assured this publication that no staff from any branch of Muneshwers Ltd. had been laid off and they continue to commit to providing quality services to the people of Guyana.
The Administrative Division of Guyana Stores Limited, a private company, also denounced the contents of the article, stating that the company has not fired or laid off any staff as was reported in the article.
A source from the company explained that a decline in sales commenced some two years ago and this trend continues. However, the source related that the management of Guyana Stores remains committed to the people of Guyana and their staff and even in light of the fact that business has been slow, no 30 employees were laid off.
The management of Gafoors and Laparkan expressed similar sentiments, condemning the contents appearing in the article and distancing themselves entirely from it. Both companies also asserted that no employees had been laid off and the article was a misrepresentation of the facts.
Appearing on their Facebook page too, the PPP alluded to “more evidence of [an] economic downturn,” by implicating popular local creole restaurant and bar, Jerries Tight and Sweet, which had been in operation for 23 years.
According to the PPP’s report, 60 members of staff were likely to be affected by the decision of the proprietor to shut his door. The party added that, “The proprietor’s wife expressed uncertainty about remaining in Guyana, given the current economic climate which she said was brought about by the change in Government.”
But contrary to this report, Jerry Bacchus, proprietor of the business in an interview with News Source, explained that, “I want to make it very clear, emphatically clear that I am not closing down because of any change in Government or any curfew or 2 am close- down. It has been tough for me since 2013 and so I have decided to move on from this business.”
He further added that the downturn for him started back in 2013, and at present, people are attempting to make it look like politics is the cause, “but it’s not that.”
The business has in its employ, 45 staff and not 60, as was reported by the PPP.

By Ravin Singh