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Diamond sugar workers finally receive severance pay

Government today made available the long overdue severance payment to Diamond sugar workers, following numerous debates and queries. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, addressing workers before receiving their cheques at the Diamond Secondary School, says bringing the matter to a conclusion was important, thus government has intervened financially. 381 diamond sugar workers are listed to receive benefits, with some 40 still under minor queries. Minister Persaud thanked them all for their dedication shown over the years but encouraged them to seek re-employment in the industry since it is faced with a labour shortage.

“If we’re gonna turn around the industry and that process has started, we’re seeing positive results we need every single hand on deck and everyone in the field, we need everyone in the factories that we can get so we can move our industry forward.”

General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union, Seepaul Narine expressed similar sentiments and encouraged the workers to utilize their monies wisely.

“The Minister of Agriculture and Guysuco have assured us that they need you and your services and there is job available at LBI and we wish to encourage you to go and take up employment and not to remain unemployed cause if you do, you’ll have to start taking out from what you have to keep yourself alive and at sometime it’s going to finish.”

Guysuco’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Rajendra Singh said though it’s the end of one era, they are welcomed to continue supporting the industry, as they need all the possible assistance.

Some of the workers present at today’s payout spent over 35 years at the diamond industry and expressed interest in taking up employment once more.

The workers for months had sought intervention at the level of the government and the union as they opposed a decision that resulted in severance pay being denied to them.

Government then supported guy-su-co with 300 million to cover the severance pay.