FORMER cane cutters of the Wales Sugar Estate, on Wednesday, began receiving outstanding severance payments from the Guyana Sugar Corporation.
According to a release by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), in December 2018, Justice Sandil Kissoon awarded to the cane cutters of Wales who took up work at Uitvlugt Estate following the closure of Wales Estates in December, 2016, one month’s pay in lieu of notice apart from their severance entitlements which is premised on their years of service to the sugar company.
GAWU said GuySuCo abided partially with the Courts order as it relates to the workers severance entitlements but refused to pay the workers, who were entitled, their one month’s pay. The union said on two occasions early last year it had written the GuySuCo seeking its full compliance with Justice Kissoon’s decision. Notwithstanding the clarity of the Court’s order, the GuySuCo remained adamant and refused to honour its legal obligations to the workers, the union alleged.
As a result, the union, through its Attorneys-at-Law, Devindra Kisson and Natasha Vieira of London House Chambers, approached the High Court to have the outstanding section of Justice Kissoon’s decision enforced. “Our legal recourse saw Chief Justice (a.g.) Roxanne George-Wiltshire, on November 21, last year, approving a garnishment order regarding the outstanding sum owed to the workers. Through the order, the Corporation’s bankers – Demerara Bank Limited – were compelled to pay over to the Union, on the workers behalf, the sum of $7.5M which was owed to the workers.”
According to GAWU, the Corporation subsequently appealed the Chief Justice’s decision and when that matter came up for hearing earlier this year, the Corporation withdrew its appeal after its attorney learnt that the order was enforced and the appeal, therefore, became moot. The withdrawal of the appeal by the GuySuCo paved the way for the Union to finally pay over to the workers their outstanding monies.
“The workers were most pleased to be receiving their outstanding payments and expressed their appreciation to the Union for their sustained efforts to bring justice to them. They also lamented the seemingly arduous and long journey they had to endure to have their lawful rights respected. Indeed, the struggle of the sugar workers of the closed estates to receive their severance entitlements represents a sad chapter in our history but, at the same time, a proud achievement for workers’ rights. It also demonstrates, too, the obstacles workers have to surmount to having their rights respected and is yet another reminder of the need for workers to be organised lest their rights be disregarded,” GAWU said.
