THE Office of the Prime Minister has refuted allegations by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had encouraged sugar workers to organise picketing exercises against the union and the High Court of Guyana.A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday noted that Nagamootoo merely reached out to suffering Wales sugar workers and it is “disappointed” that the Prime Minister is being dragged into a GuySuCo/workers’ union dispute over the Wales factory operations merger and the delay in payment of severance benefits.

According to the statement, diverting attention from the plight of the workers to the Prime Minister appears politically motivated, petty, unhelpful and disingenuous.

The statement clarified that on July 27, a delegation of 11 Wales sugar workers visited the Ministry of the Presidency unannounced and requested a meeting with President David Granger, but were instead received by Prime Minister Nagamootoo.

The workers explained that during a meeting with GuySuCo’s management, the plan to merge the Wales and Uitvlugt factory operations was explained. They were offered continued employment at the Uitvlugt estate.

The workers further disclosed that 99 of them voluntarily opted not to take up the offer to work at Uitvlugt and accepted severance packages instead and Prime Minister Nagamootoo respected their decision. The workers explained that an agreement was made to commence payment of the severance packages starting in May last (not April). It was noted that prior to the commencement date for the payment of severance packages, the workers were advised by GuySuCo that GAWU and NAACIE sought and were granted an order of the court which blocked GuySuCo from making the payments.

“The Prime Minister expressed sympathy with the workers, but explained that he was not familiar with the payment issue and enquired whether the workers would wish to meet with the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder. They requested his presence and Minister Holder was invited to the meeting. Minister Holder then assured the workers that he had confirmed with the GuySuCo board that the money to make the payments was available and that the payments would be made once the injunction is discharged,” the statement noted.

According to the statement, the Prime Minister was provided with a copy of the order of the court and he explained that the injunction in effect blocks the possibility of them receiving their severance as GuySuCo could not disobey the order.

“The Prime Minister advised the workers that they should approach their union to lift the injunction in order for them to receive their severance pay. Prime Minister Nagamootoo provided practical and logical advice to the workers who were seeking redress for the hardships they are facing and encouraged them to make their voices heard,” the statement noted.

It was further noted that the “Prime Minister was and remains in sympathy with the workers and sought to assist them as best he could and implores GAWU and NAACIE to put the interests of the workers first and to resist engaging in petty politicking and publicity gimmickry.

“The Office of the Prime Minister remains of the view that if the unions are genuinely concerned with the suffering of the workers, they would cause the injunction to be discharged. OPM calls on GAWU and NAACIE to act in the best interest of the workers who are suffering hardships from not having received payments due to them since May of this year.”