Guyana Government to assist sugar workers

Guyana says it will provide assistance to workers from the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Uitvlugt Estate, who have been unable to work as a result of mechanical problems at the factory.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said the workers should also use the period to take advantage of training opportunities that are almost immediately available through the government, noting that the training can be provided to as many as 500 persons in various areas.

“These are good-paying jobs, but it is the type of industries that people are building into. So, in construction, we have unlimited demand for carpenters and masons and welders and electricians. A good paying job anywhere at this time, people would recruit you, even for retraining.

“If you can find me, coming out of this meeting, here and in the community, any number of people we can start the training program almost immediately and assist you so that when you come out you have a skill, that is marketable that will earn you much much more money.”

Jagdeo also urged the workers to take advantage of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships program, noting that while the government had initially promised to offer 20,000 of these scholarships, that number has now been revised upward.

Jagdeo criticized the former government for shutting down the Uitvlugt estate, resulting in defunct machinery and low production rates. He said the shutdown had resulted in an estimated 7,000 workers being put on the breadline.

“That is why we made a commitment that we have to keep sugar going until every sugar worker, either have a job in a high price industry, converting sugar adding on some value-added, allowing them to continue working there or alternately finding a job in another high paying sector for every sugar worker.”

He acknowledged that transitioning to other professions is not easy but assured that the government is committed to assisting them fully throughout the process.

Noting the low wages currently available in the sugar industry, Jagdeo told the workers if they would like to remain at the estate, the government will support the payment of wages and salaries for those who wish to work six days per week.

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He said the government is prepared to work with them individually to find the best alternative to ensure they remain employed. Small grants are also available to those who want to start small businesses.

CMC/