Wales estate sugar workers receive final severance
– payments follow court ruling
– workers satisfied
DPI, Guyana, Friday, December 7, 2018
Over 300 retrenched workers from the Wales Estate on Friday turned out to receive the last of their severance payments following the court ruling on December 5, 2018.
Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder during his 2019 Budget presentation had explained that the monies for the payment were secured and GuySuCo is fully prepared to commence payments once Justice Sandil Kissoon made his ruling.
High Court Judge, Justice Kissoon ruled that the workers are to be paid interest in addition to their severance.
This morning the retrenched workers gathered at the estate’s pay office to collect their benefits.
The Department of Public Information spoke with some of them who expressed their satisfaction with receiving their payment.
Andrew George told the Department of Public Information that he “felt good” having received his payments
After working on the estate for thirteen years, Satrohan Singh remarked that he is “glad to know that I’m taking home what I have been working for all these years.”
Another worker Alvin Bradford remarked he is happy to receive his payments and thanked the administration. “I am so relieved because we waited so long for this moment and today is the day for us. I thank President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo for what they did for us today, I’m grateful for it on behalf of myself and all the other cane harvesters.”
Payments will continue on Saturday, December 8th from 9am to 4pm at the Wales Estate Pay Office, on the West Bank of Demerara.
Anara Khan.
Images: Akeem Thomas.