THE structure at Palmyra, to house the Indian Arrival Monument on Tuesday afternoon, came crashing down as workers were busy trying to complete it for Indian Arrival Day celebrated on May 5.

Guyana Chronicle understands that the walls of structure collapsed while workers were at work. An eyewitness who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said the interior of the structure was being filled with sand when it gave way. The source, who is an engineer, revealed that from his observations, the concrete work was fairly fresh and proper engineering procedures were not observed.

“They were backfilling the inside of the building but they did not tie the structure to avoid what happened. The concrete is still not yet fully cured and they should have used steel to tie the walls from the insides to keep the structure in place. The other option would have been to secure it from the outside,” the engineer said.

Meanwhile, skilled and semi-skilled workers tasked with constructing the $35M Bronze Indian Arrival Monument have voiced their displeasure over the non-payments of earnings by project contractor, Oswald Wilson called “Skinny”, or Orin Wilson, who allegedly visits the site periodically.

Just moments after airing their grievances, the base of the structure collapsed after a compacting exercise. Fortunately, none of the eight employees who were on the site was injured. Since the commencement of construction of the monument, workers have repeatedly complained about the non-payment of wages which has resulted in the 22-member workforce being reduced to just eight men. Grantley Montoute, who works as a security guard, told reporters that he has been employed at the site since February and is yet to be paid.

“Every time he promises to pay and he would get me waiting at the Berbice Bridge (which is in close proximity to the site), saying he will send the money. Up to now I have not received a cent. I have children who attend school, but they can’t because of insufficient money.

“That contractor lies so much, he is a scamp, a heartless man. We worked through all the national holidays hoping we would be paid, but nothing is fort coming. Right now they got about six men ‘mamaguying’ themselves, say them working. This place ain’t got no workforce because the contractor is not paying the men any money. All I want is my money. I was also a driver by day. I used to transport the workers form the site to their place of residence. I had to stop. He made me lose my first car as it had belonged to someone else and after I was not being paid for its service, the owner repossessed the car. I got a second car…. I had to stop the service again, as the man is not paying, although he had promised to pay weekly.”

Another employee, labourer Leroy Dixon said he is owed $54,000. He was told two weeks ago that his money would have been sent, but he is yet to receive the cash. Dixon told reporters that initially many persons were employed at the site but that amount has dwindled significantly in recent weeks. Glen Morrison, who used to work at the site as a steel bender, also lamented not being paid. He related that he was promised the payment of his remaining wages ($30,000) three weeks ago but is yet to receive same. The former employee said the contractor would always telephone and make promises, but to no avail. Wilson when contacted asked this newspaper not to have the issue of non-payment of wages published as he will ensure that all outstanding sums are paid on Friday.

Some $97M is expected to be expended as preparatory works on the one acre plot of land to house a US$150,000 bronze edifice which was donated by the Indian Government.

The six-foot statue depicting six bronze figures of three men, two
women and a child was designed by Philbert Gajadhar and Winslow Craig.
The statue illustrates Indians in their everyday life.

On March 15, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingham unveiled the site for the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra Village, East Berbice, Corentyne.