PSC takes Christmas cheer to over 1000 sugar workers and their families

Dec 24, 2017 News

More than 1,000 sugar workers and their families were on Friday treated with hampers and toys by the Private Sector Commission. Smiles were brought to the children’s faces as they were handed their toys and ice-cream.

A private sector member distributes a Christmas cheer.

The initiative comes at a time when thousands of sugar workers from several estates were handed termination letters, leaving them jobless for the Holiday’s and onwards. Concerns were expressed for the families of these workers who would have to feel the pressure as well, financially and mentally.
At the celebration women and their children along with the laid off sugar workers turned out in their numbers with a voucher in hand to uplift their hamper and toys as they were entertained by Santa Clause and Christmas Carols.
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Eddie Boyer, told those gathered that the PSC is standing by their demands to not close the estates but to rather privatize. “A special purpose unit was set up, we don’t have a problem with privatizing but what we had a problem with, was the closure of the estates. We didn’t want that… but it happened”.
He said that the initiative will not be a stopping gap but rather a medium for many more to be done.
In his message he charged the women and men to stay strong and avoid the pressures that will come along with the unemployment.
“The wives need to understand that you cannot punish your husband for being unemployed, give them a break until they find a skill. We are hoping that these estates will be privatized so that everybody can get back their job. You also have to understand that it’s not gonna be business as usual but we are gonna continue to fight for you all,”, Boyer told those gathered.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Corriverton and President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Hemchand Jaichand, expressed his concern over the situation currently facing workers.
“Skeldon estate can sustain itself with a local board, you have local management. As the mayor its a concern for me that 2,200 workers will be out of a job. This will cause cross border crimes and much more.”
He stated that the idea came about some two weeks ago. He said that 900 hampers were distributed along with 350 toys.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News