Govt seeks supplementary provision to pay GuySuCo severance as Parliament reconvenes

– sum is part of $7.5BILLION total supplementary provision being sought

– 1,400 ex-employees have received their severance, thus far, in full with the remainder awaiting the remaining 50 per cent

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, October 18, 2018

The government, through Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan today requested supplementary finances in the sum of $2.4BILLION.

According to Minister Jordan, the amount represents monies to pay the second half of severance due to the more than 3,000 workers made redundant following the re-organisation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

In February of this year, then Chief Executive Officer (ag), Paul Bhim said, “About 3,700 employees were issued with severance letters and the government had approved the partial payment of the severance of 50 per cent but there was an adjustment to that because anyone with 500,000 or less were paid in full; so far, 1,400 ex-employees have received their severance in full with the remainder awaiting the remaining 50 per cent.”

Meanwhile, during a meeting at the Rosehall Primary School on October 14, President David Granger reassured that the government is committed to paying the remaining severance before the end of the year.

“At the beginning of the year, we said that severance would be paid in two parts. One in the first half of the year and the second part in the second half of the year.  You received your first part and you will get your second part in the second half of the year. Sugar workers are going to get their severance and I say so. We are not going to deny sugar workers one dollar of their severance pay. We are also going to work with the unions to make sure that the workers who cannot find employment on the estates are given a soft landing, that is, we will try to provide employment opportunities so that nobody has to suffer,” the president said.

The sum forms part of a $7.5BILLION total requested to fund the hosting of the 12th bi-annual Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) summit, provide relief supplies to Venezuelan migrants in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine, monitoring and managing the team of Brazilian Military personnel involved in well drilling exercises in the Rupununi and executing emergency repairs to sections of the Diamond Housing Scheme.

Kidackie Amsterdam.

Image: Department of Public Information.

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