Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 08, 2016 News
Since the announcement of the decision by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to integrate the sugar estates of Wales and Uitvlugt, the Guyana Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) have been misrepresenting the situation to create doubts in the minds of the workers about information which does not exist.
This was according to the Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.
The Ministry further stated that the union has been misrepresenting also, the situation stating that all workers will be severed however, the Ministry wishes to make it clear that the Wales Factory will be closed at the end of the second crop for 2016, after both farmers’ and the estate canes have been harvested and processed by the factory.
The Ministry also wishes to make clear that a “significant number” of workers from Wales will be absorbed at the Uitvlugt estate. The GuySuCo-owned cultivation at Wales will be prepared for a “diversification program” as the canes are harvested in 2016.
The actions of the Union, the Ministry of Agriculture believes, is aimed at misrepresenting the situation to create doubts in the minds of the workers about information which does not exist.
In a release issued by the Ministry, “The parlous state of the sugar industry is common knowledge and the Wales Estate is projected to make a further loss of $1.9B in 2016”.
The release continued that GuySuCo is making every effort possible to ensure that workers remain in employment. In this regard, they noted that meetings have been held and will continue over the next two months to try to persuade those workers who have opted for severance to remain on the job.
“Thus far, thirteen persons who may become redundant are tillage tractor operators. The Corporation is exploring the possibility of procuring 6 additional tillage tractors and if successful, these operators can be gainfully employed at Uitvlugt in tillage operations and would therefore assist in accelerating the rehabilitation of that estate’s cultivation.”
The Ministry informed that there will be several categories of workers that will remain at the Wales Estate at the end of 2016.
“Amongst those categories, there will be cane harvesters who will be offered employment at Uitvlugt. Those who are approaching pensionable age will be offered early retirement. If possible, others will be absorbed at Uitvlugt where suitable vacancies exist, while the remainder will be required for new economic ventures in the Wales cultivation.”
The release continued, “All clerical staff will remain at Wales for 2016, since their services will be required to provide support to the other operations which will continue at Wales during this year. In the meantime, the placement of these workers continues to be addressed as a matter of urgency”.
The Ministry pointed out that the Corporation is already “vigorously” pursuing the feasibility of alternative economic ventures utilizing the Wales lands and is optimistic that there will be wealth creation and employment generation from these new ventures.
“The unions have already been advised that new economic ventures will be in place at Wales by October 1, 2016.”
On Thursday last, workers attached to the various sugar factories across the country were engaged in industrial action to show solidarity with their colleagues of the Wales Estate.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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