Based on a report appearing in yesterday’s (February 15, 2018) Stabroek News, our Union has noted that the Government, through Finance Minister Winston Jordan, has confirmed that operations of Skeldon and East Demerara Estates would resume sometime next month (March, 2018). The Minister, from an NCN report, is quoted to have said “[i]f they are closed then the interest of investors and how much you will be able to get from a buyer may be considerably less so the thinking is to keep them in motion”. The GAWU cannot help but wonder whether these rationales had not entered the Administration’s mind before it took what clearly was a wrong decision to close the estates in the first place.
Undoubtedly, the news for the many workers who were employed at Skeldon and East Demerara was a ray of sunshine between the dark clouds that are hovering over them since the estates were closed and they were sent on to the breadline. GAWU and the workers have been calling for the estates to be re-opened. This was a matter we strongly stressed during our engagement with the Administration on January 19, 2018 and we are heartened that it has accepted our suggestion, obviously recognizing their grave misstep, and decided to resume operations at the estates in question.
From the Stabroek News report, the GAWU understands that the resumption will be on a limited basis. While it is not too clear what this means, we want to believe, however, that not all the workers who were in the employ of two (2) identified estates would be called back to work. Significantly too, are the conditions of work that the soon-to-be re-employed workers would be re-engaged under. This situation could very well present a new host of difficulties while, at same time, we cannot be certain how many of the distressed workers will not be re-employed. On this score, we urge the Government not to forget that not just a few weeks ago it embraced and espoused the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Decent Work Programme which speaks to, among other things, fair income, job security, respect for workers’ rights and freedoms, and equality.
What about Rose Hall?
While encouraged by the developments we, at this time, cannot fail to recognise that no mention has been made about Rose Hall Estate where the people are facing too a very pitiful situation. At a press conference, just two (2) days ago, a number of ex-workers from Rose Hall shared with the Guyanese people the terrible times they are facing since their estate was closed. For the GAWU, and we believe the media personnel who were present, those workers stories of distraught were very moving and they brought out, in real terms, the impact of closure on their lives and psyche.
The people of Rose Hall find themselves now-a-days between a rock and a hard place as they are made to contend with a jobless life. As the ex-Rose Hall workers explained at the press conference on February 14, 2018, the opportunity for jobs in the surrounding areas is near to non-existent. Already, they have shared with us that school attendance has fallen and a few other disturbing features are emerging. Presently, many of the displaced workers are living on their severance payments and they are worried, quite naturally, about what would happen when those monies are exhausted and they remain without a job. Quite certainly, they are worried that the situation could take an even worst turn and reach harrowing proportions. It would be unfortunate should the situation reach such a point especially given that there wasn’t the need to close the estate in the first place.
