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Several Staff of the Anna Regina Town Council have taken protest action to the streets of the township, against the government who is refusing to pay salaries owed to them.
During a peaceful demonstration on Friday, the workers expressed their frustration of working for months without pay.
A woman who said she works in the security department, explained in a live video on Facebook, that the last time they were paid, was in August, and that payment was for July month. Salaries for August, September and now October, are owed the staff.
The woman said it has been tough, and is a sad situation because she has been struggling to take care of herself and family. In addition, she said the bills are piling up and so is the bank loan interest.
Another worker, a male who said he is a tractor operator said that for 2020, payment has always been an issue. He said that council started taking very long, sometimes close to two months, before they are paid. The man pointed out too that they are meted out with disgust when they show up at the council office for payment. This, he said is very heart-rending.
APNU+AFC Member of parliament, Shurwayne Holder, who hails from the said region, has been making representation for these workers through the budget debates. Holder often drilled Minister Nigel Dharamlall, who is the minister directly responsible for these staffers, on the issue of payment.
The MP was present at the protest with the workers and was caught on video saying that the priority of the government has to be with the people of this country. Investing billions of dollars in Guysuco which is not functioning at the moment, he said should not hold priority over paying these poor staff who are serving the country.
“How are the workers to take care of their families? It’s not fair for these workers to be working for months without being paid, while the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Clerk are getting paid. So the upper hierarchy are being paid, but the poorer people who are actually keeping the town running and are doing the work, are suffering. It’s unfair,” Holder lamented.
He pointed out too, that Region two is a region that the PPP has been winning overwhelmingly, “this is their strong hold. And if this is the way you treat your people, God help us in this country.”
The people are calling on the government to look out for them, and see their plight, and are hoping to hear soon when they will get what is duly owed to them.
On the same note of injustice to government workers, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) in a release on Saturday, said it notes with alarm, the crude and undignified manner with which the PPP/C Government has proceeded to dismiss employees without due notice and reasons. Some of these employees were appointed prior to 2015, and their summary dismissal for no apparent reason mocks the pledge to engage in behavior without ill will.
“The nation expects professionalism from its government even when contract provisions permit immediate dismissal, and those who have to exit must be able to do so, with respect,”the release said.
WPA urged the government to eschew practices as non-notification of the current office holders of their replacement; dismissals at the end of the work day or without the courtesy of a letter, at the weekends or use of the police where there is no disorder.
These methods, the party outlined, are in poor taste, do not encourage good industrial relations and are not in keeping with a government that claims to practice inclusive democracy.
“Good governance demands that those who in the minds of the PPP are not supporters must not be arbitrarily dismissed as we say in Guyanese “left right and center.”
WPA deplores the vindictive and crass actions taken against those employees and are prepared to act in having those employees receive Justice,” the party posited.
