Ministers of Natural Resources and Region 10 MPs Meet Officials of Rusal and Oldendorff

Hon. Raphael G. C. Trotman, Minister of Natural Resources, and Hon. Simona Broomes, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, along with Mr. Audwin Rutherford, MP and Mr. Jermain Figueira, MP today held discussions with officials of Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc., a subsidiary of Rusal, and shipping company Oldendorff, to assess first hand the impact that the US Government sanctions on Rusal’s Guyana operations In the upper Berbice River, and in the main, on the hundreds of workers employed by the two companies.

At the meeting it was disclosed that senior officials In Europe were engaged in daily talks to mitigate the impacts and information being communicated as soon as it is known.

The situation was described as “fluid”, and for now, it is known that the operations would continue until June 5, 2018. In the event that the sanctions are not withdrawn or modified by June 5, 2018, Oldendorff would be legally obliged to terminate it’s services.

Both companies pledged to continue to engage the workers and to respect the labour laws of Guyana In the handling of their arising issues. Additionally, the companies indicated their willingness to receive government’s support In whatever way possible.

The Ministers and Members of Parliament grilled the officials about their sharing of information with employees and stressed the high value that government placed on keeping the workers employed to avoid the social impact to the people of Region 10, – .Upper Demerara-Berbice.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Ministers indicated that in addition to holding meetings with Union representatives they will also urgently visit employees at the various sites in the Berbice River In the coming week.