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GUYANA CHRONICLE Saturday February 20, 2016
2,500 to benefit from CDB project
BASIC NEEDS Trust Fund (BNTF) will be rehabilitating roads in Samatta Point and Fyrish, using US$267,000. The multi-million-dollar project, which will benefit more than 2,500 residents, is being funded by Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through a grant. On Wednesday, the Government through BNTF awarded contracts to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited and N Lachman Business Establishment and Civil Works for the rehabilitation of a bridge and the upgrade of roads in Samatta Point and
Fyrish. Critical rehabilitation works on the main access bridge and roadways in the Samatta Point on the East Bank of Demerara will be executed by Courtney Benn at a cost of G$32.5M. These works include repairs to the bridge, upgrading the road surface to asphaltic concrete, constructing clay shoulders and speed humps, and desilting roadside drains. Meanwhile, residents of Church and Sixth Streets, Fyrish Village, Corentyne will also benefit from a Double Bituminous Surface Treatment (DBST), finished with Sand
Saturday February 20, 2015 - 14:30 hrs Sunday February 21, 2015 - 14:30 hrs
BNTF Project Manager Michael Singh handing over the contract to N Lachman – the CEO of N Lachman Business Establishment & Civil Works, in the presence of Finance Secretary Dr Hector Butts and other officials Seal road network, north of the signing on behalf of the projects that Government road and water projects, buildthe Corentyne Highway. Government. plans to implement. ing more disaster-resistant N Lachman Business EsDr Butts, in delivering The projects were iden- structures, community skills tablishment & Civil Works brief remarks, reminded the tified by BNTF under its 7th training and support for small was awarded the contract to contractors of Government’s cycle Community Access and and medium-sized enterprises. the value of G$22,140,000 demand for high quality work Drainage Sector Portfolio, and It has engaged the serBNTF Project Manager and efficiency of service. He are expected to be completed vices of CEMCO Inc to Michael Singh signed both also assured the contractors by May 31, 2016. provide architectural and contracts. Finance Secretary that they were welcome to bid The CDB provides financ- engineering services for the of the Ministry of Finance, for similar as well as the larger ing for social and economic design and supervision of Dr Hector Butts, witnessed infrastructure development infrastructure such as schools, the projects.
GuySuCo, GAWU deadlocked on incentive package
THE RECENT call by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) for sugar workers to strike, has led to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) threatening to halt operations on the current crop. In a statement on Friday, GuySuCo disclosed that, “such behaviour by the union would leave the Corporation with no alternative, but to put a halt to the current crop until the union gives its fullest commitment to allowing the crop to
discuss Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2015 under the Chairmanship of the Chief Labour Officer and it was at that point the union was informed that GuySuCo had not prepared any meals. Nevertheless, GuySuCo’s statement concluded that the parties, GuySuCo and GAWU on February 19, 2016 reconvened at conciliation under the auspices of the Chief Labour Officer to conclude on Annual Production Incentive (API) for 2015. The last meeting was
proceed unhindered.” The issue which arose following GAWU’s dissatisfaction with the Annual Production Incentive (API) offered by the Corporation in 2015 has escalated on many occasions into strikes by sugar workers across the nation. Again, on Friday members of GAWU negotiating team picketed GuySuCo’s Ogle Head Office over the alleged denial by the Corporation of meals to the union’s delegation. The union in a statement disclosed that the picketing followed the conclusion of a conciliatory meeting to
held on December 11, 2015 where both parties presented their submissions to the conciliator, after which he informed the parties that he recognised they had reached an impasse and that before he declared a deadlock he would prefer to consult with his subject minister. PARLOUS FINANCIAL STATE On Friday, the conciliator declared a deadlock in relation to the 2015 API negotiations. GuySuCo’s representatives requested and reiterated the position to have the matter settled
at conciliation level in view of its current “parlous financial state”. “However, in keeping with the established grievance procedure the Corporation reluctantly indicated to
cost.” Notwithstanding, a deadlock was declared by the conciliator. The Corporation implored that this matter should end at this level with the union accepting the 2.72
the conciliator that it had no reservation in moving to the next level that is, arbitration, if the union did not agree for the matter to be concluded yesterday (Friday).” Meanwhile, the statement stressed that GuySuCo’s total revenue for 2015 was G$18. 4B with sugar sales contributing G$17.2 B. The revenue generated by no means covered the employment cost which stood at G$21.6 B for 2015. Further, the meeting was also advised that the Corporation was docile to the payment of incentives. “The seven estates in 2015 achieved 94.41 days, thereby, allowing the workers to earn G$1.099B in Weekly Production Incentive [WPI]. In addition, a sum of G$1.009B was also earned as Personal Performance Incentive (PPI) by cane harvesters. Those incentives compare to G$2.1 B of tax free earnings to our employees. This is approximately 10 per cent of the Corporation’s employment
days’ pay valued at approximately G$223M. This would allow the Corporation to go ahead and make the payment in keeping with its commitment to the employees. It was also advised with great concern the union’s calls to the Corporation’s workforce to strike on every Tuesday. The union leadership has also hinted in sections of the media of this strike action intensifying over the coming weeks. “Given the Corporation’s very poor financial health, if this call were to be answered by the workforce in the coming weeks, it would cause a major disruption of the current crop and would only deepen the financial woes of GuySuCo. It would mean the factories having to stop and start on a regular basis, a situation that would not be financially sustainable. All the stakeholders, including the union are fully aware of the negative implications of this action, the GuySuCo statement lamented.