Sugar workers to receive second half of severance
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─ “We are not going to deny sugar workers one dollar of their severance pay” – Pres. Granger
─ “Next week we are going to the National Assembly to pass supplementary provisions for payment in the second half”
─ Govt working to reform sugar industry
DPI, Guyana, Friday, October 12, 2018
During a recent visit to East Berbice Corentyne, President David Granger reiterated that “sugar workers are going to get their severance pay”.
He said, “at the beginning of the year, we said one part will be paid in the first half and the second part in the second half of the year.”
The Head of State announced that “next week we are going to the National Assembly to pass supplementary provisions for payment in the second half… We are not going to deny sugar workers one dollar of their severance pay.”
President Granger said that when his administration took office, a decision was taken to reform the sugar industry as it was operating on subsidies.
He remarked, “we did not kill the sugar industry, we saved the sugar industry.”
He added that the main sugar factories around the country namely Albion in East Berbice Corentyne, Blairmont in West Berbice and Uitvlugt in West Demerara were left in operation while those estates which were not profitable were closed down.
The president assured that the government will work with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and other unions “to make sure that the workers who cannot find employment on the estates are given a soft landing.”
He emphasised that “we will try to find employment opportunities so that nobody has to suffer”.
President Granger highlighted that the government is continuously looking for avenues to help Guyana’s sugar industry stay afloat.
“As you can see from the papers, every day, every week, every month, we are looking for ways and means to borrow money to ensure that the Guyana Sugar Cooperation could remain efficient and produce sugar at a marketable price.”
Anara Khan.
Image: Keno George.