{"id":3595,"date":"2012-03-28T17:14:52","date_gmt":"2012-03-28T22:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=3595"},"modified":"2012-03-28T17:14:52","modified_gmt":"2012-03-28T22:14:52","slug":"issues-at-rose-hall-estate-afc-outreach-to-region-five-the-dismissal-of-the-three-nbs-officers-afc-relieved-the-munroes-are-back-with-their-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=3595","title":{"rendered":"Issues at Rose Hall Estate \/ AFC Outreach to Region Five \/ The dismissal of the three NBS officers \/ AFC relieved the Munroes are back with their children \/"},"content":{"rendered":"

Issues at Rose Hall Estate<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, March 27, Rajendra Bisessar, representing the AFC spoke with a group of sugar workers at the Rose Hall Sugar Factory who were in dispute with management.\u00a0 According to the workers\u2019 representative, the issue was about payment for job work.<\/p>\n

The workers have to distribute aragonite on a certain amount of beds for a certain price.\u00a0 A fixed weight of aragonite is placed in the punt. They then have to carry the aragonite and spread it on the beds. The workers are not to carry more than fifty six pounds according to agreement. The workers assess the weight by the spade-full and they also had their spring scale.<\/p>\n

The Estate management utilises a stick with numbers from, 1, written on it. This stick according to management gives a fairly accurate number of tons in the punt utilizing the displacement of water. The amount of aragonite is supposed to be spread over a certain number of beds at a fixed amount per bed.<\/p>\n

The problem according to workers is that they spread the aragonite over the beds, but at the end of the fixed amount of beds there is still a fair amount of aragonite in the punt, and management expects them to continue spreading the remainder over additional beds.<\/p>\n

The workers are saying that they spread the weight prescribed over the number of beds prescribed and so the amount of aragonite in the punt is in excess of the stated amount and that the stick measurement is inaccurate. The workers use their spring weight to check what they are loading in their bags to spread, and management is saying that they have no faith in the scale, according to the workers.<\/p>\n

A young lady was there to represent management with the workers being opposed to her intervention. However, she said she was a management person and had a right to intervene even though she was from another section.\u00a0 According to Mr Bisessar, the young lady\u2019s conduct was nothing but abusive while he observed the conduct of the workers to be polite and courteous.<\/p>\n

In addition to this on the 14 of March, some workers were given warning letters which stated that there was an uneven distribution of aragonite among the beds.\u00a0 This the workers say occurred in their attempt to utilise all the aragonite in the punts, which is in excess to what is needed.\u00a0 In addition the workers pointed out that when it rains the aragonite becomes lumpy also affecting distribution.<\/p>\n

In Mr Bisessar\u2019s presence, management told the workers that they would be paid the weight and additional hours to make up, but according to the workers this does not take care of the future and that they need this matter to be resolved once and for all.<\/p>\n

They workers took the opportunity to highlight other problems they were facing. They said that when the canes are lifted from the punts to the factory a certain amount is left in the punts and the punts are not being cleaned because they are only offering $50 per punt. They claim that canes worth far more than that are being wasted and that it is penny wise and pound foolish as workers are unwilling to accept $50.<\/p>\n

In the interest of the workers and the industry, the AFC is calling for an examination of the dispute resolution system so that there can be speedier resolutions to these disputes.\u00a0 Further, the dispute by one gang often escalates to the entire estate being on strike as the other workers give solidarity in the face of management\u2019s intransigence.<\/p>\n

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AFC Outreach to Region Five<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A team from the Alliance for Change (AFC), including Moses Nagamootoo, Gerhard Ramsaroop and Nigel Hughes, in a recent outreach to Region 5 visited Ithaca, Woodley Park (no. 11), Bath Settlement, Hopetown and Armadale.<\/p>\n

Problems with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) were expressed at all of our meetings and stops.\u00a0 The issues were primarily incorrect and missing contributions.\u00a0 At Ithaca, which was the most depressed community we visited, there was an incomplete cultural centre dating from the Burnham era, a defunct community centre and ground, and a water tank built in 1999 that never functioned.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, the most pressing problem in Ithaca is the water supply.\u00a0 The water is discoloured and has an unpleasant odour.\u00a0 The residents claim there is no filtration system at the well, and that combined with old distribution pipes, is to blame for the condition of the water.\u00a0 The AFC is calling on Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) to intervene and rectify this deplorable situation immediately.<\/p>\n

In Hopetown, there is a squatting area dating from 15 years ago.\u00a0 With the area not being regularised, the residents cannot access basic utilities such as electricity and water.\u00a0 Among the residents of the squatting area is a single mother of five who works as a sweeper\/cleaner at the Hopetown Primary School and does odd jobs as well, including cleaning canals, just to try to make ends meet.\u00a0 The AFC is asking that this too be addressed by the relevant authorities urgently, especially in light of other more recent squatting areas in Region 5 being regularised.<\/p>\n

Subsequent to our outreach, AFC Regional Councillor, Mr Herman Anthony organised the Regional Chairman, Mr Bisnauth and other Regional officials to visit Ithaca.\u00a0 The Chairman promised improved works in the village, including repairs to drains and kokers, after the Budget is passed.\u00a0 The AFC will hold the Regional Administration to this.<\/p>\n

Our Councillors also visited No. 3 village where residents expressed their outrage at the state of the main canal.\u00a0 They claimed that the present heavily clogged state of the canal has been the norm for the past 15 years.\u00a0 The AFC is therefore, calling on the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to remedy this urgently.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In keeping with the AFC\u2019s commitment to the sweeper\/cleaners in the Region, Cindy Sookdeo got a motion passed for them to be registered on the Regional payroll.\u00a0 We applaud the work of our Councillors and our AFC Regional Management Committee (RMC) in Region 5. [END]<\/p>\n

The dismissal of the three NBS officers<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In June 2007, the then Director\/Secretary\/CEO, Maurice Arjoon; Operations Manager, Kent Vincent and Mortgage Manager, Kissoon Baldeo were charged for fraud.\u00a0 Staff in support of the three men, soon after signed a petition confirming that the following day the Chairman of NBS said to them:<\/p>\n