“I am aghast at the recent announcement made by Bishop Juan Edghill regarding the government’s permission for the importation of ‘60 foreign heavy duty truck drivers’ to work on the Ogle-Eccles Road project.” So said shadow Minister of Housing and Labour, Ms. Annette Ferguson.
The government has announced plans to import labour in an area where there are many Guyanese possessing such skill or could be trained to possess such skill
Reacting to the news, Ferguson said Guyanese should be alarmed, particularly given the fact the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), during the 2023 General and Regional Election campaign, has promised to create 50,000 jobs.
Ridiculing the unmet campaign promise, the Member of Parliament (MP) said the government, through the Ministry of Labour, constantly boasts of spending millions spent to train youth through the Board of Industrial Training Center (BITC), collaborating with FBOs and NGOs to provide the necessary assistance and guidance to young people for career development, etc. According to her, despite the hype and announcement “the PPP/C regime has FAILED our youth.”
The MP told Village Voice News “there is no need for this callous and uncaring regime to import 60 heavy duty truck drivers because in Guyana there can be found competent persons who can drive heavy duty equipment.”
Guyanese should recall the days of the construction of the tax-funded Marriott Hotel, the PPP/C government promised local workers will be employed but instead allowed for the importation of Chinese workers, Ferguson reminded.
Touching on another campaign promise by the PPP/C, made during this year’s Local Government Elections, the shadow Minister of Housing and Labour said PPP/C leader, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, made several promises across communities, including finding jobs for young people, but has today turned his back on the people.
Pointing to several heavy-duty trucks that ply the road, Ferguson opined there may be a shift system involved in utilizing many of these workers, which brings into question the shortage of drivers the Edghill is speaking about.
Pointing out organisations like MACROP, a reputable Guyanese company, provides training to young Guyanese, who has an interest in operating heavy-duty equipment, she inquired whether the regime engaged local organisations to ascertain whether they have a database on those who have been trained.
Exploring the cost factor associated with an importation plan, the MP noted the government’s silence on the remuneration package for these 60 drivers. Citing the fact taxpayers will have to carry the financial responsibility Ferguson wants to know the cost associated with wages/salaries, housing accommodation, amongst other things, and is demanding such information be made public. To this end the shadow minister is demanding answers from the Ministry of Public Works on:
- What procurement measures were put in place to hire these 60 heavy duty truck drivers?
- Which media outlet were the publications made?
- How many applications were received from Guyanese?
- What are the daily rates to be paid to the 60 foreign heavy duty truck drivers?
- What are the additional benefits to be paid to these 60 foreign heavy duty truck drivers?
And from the Ministry of Labour the:
- Number of young people who were trained through the BIT, from August 2, 2022 to July 25, 2023.
- Number of monies expended on training young people from August 2, 2020 to July 25, 2023.
- Areas of training young people benefitted from August 2, 2020 to July 25, 2023.
- Are these young people gainfully employed? If yes, where.
