Many former sugar workers satisfied with severance 

– MP Charandass Persaud

DPI, Tuesday, Guyana, December 4, 2019

Member of Parliament, Charrandass Persaud on Tuesday told the National Assembly over 3000 sugar workers in Region Six have received their full severance package and many are pleased with the government keeping its promise.

It was in January that the first half of the severance was paid out in full for redundant workers who were receiving amounts of $500,000 and less. However, those collecting over that amount received fifty percent then and the remainder paid out on November 30.

Charrandass noted that while the present administration made the decision to close down the three sugar estates- Blairmont in the West Bank Berbice, Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice and the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara – the severance packages are far better than what was received under the previous government.

“We cannot bring back a dying industry, which the previous Administration crippled,” Charrandass stated. Several of the workers who were made redundant following the closure of the estates have benefited from alternative livelihood programme which equipped them with skills to seek employment in other fields.

Ayana George

Image: Keno George