– Minister Nadir
Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir Saturday in a response to a Kaieteur News article published October 10, in which Norris Witter, General Secretary (ag) Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) claimed that Labour Officers at the Ministry’s Brickdam office were working under unsuitable working conditions, has stated that it was nothing more than a setup staged by Witter, Kaieteur News and perpetuators within the ministry.

He pointed out that if any staff was found working on the top floor of the building it would have been a part of their involvement in the wickedness of Kaieteur News and Witter.

Minister Nadir stated that a decision was made at a staff retreat held on September 23 to start the make-over on the weekend of October 2. This period was chosen because more than half of the staff would have been away from work – five from the North Road location went to Barbados on October 4 for one week and seven others were at a three-day workshop.

Officers in the top flat of the Brickdam building were relocated to the lower flat or the North Road location, while arbitration and other meetings are to be held at the Stabroek location.

In relation to Witter’s claim that the number of staff currently housed in the building exceeds the stipulated number, Chief Labour Occupational Health and Safety Officer Yoganand Persaud pointed out that a decision was taken to remove the internal walls to make more space available. This is responsible for some of the current displacement at the Office.

Work is scheduled to be completed shortly and working conditions will return to normal.