Years on, Precision workers still awaiting court justice

Dear Editor,

In February 2015 I participated together with former workers of Precision Woodworking Ltd. in a picketing exercise in front of Republic Bank Ltd’s Corporate headquarters, New Market St. and reported in the Kaieteur News February 28, 2015.

This exercise which had to do with the non-payment of severance benefits to the workers, focused on the court action brought by the company against the bank and the amount of time it was taking for resolution of the case. At the time, the matter was before the court for almost three years! In one week from now, it will be five years since filing of this action before the Commercial Court and believe it or not, a date for trial has not been set! This is in spite of the fact that to date there have been more than ninety court appearances!

This observation forces me to conclude that the court system is obviously dysfunctional and clearly not a venue for timely legal resolution of differences, a matter that will adversely impact on investments, particularly foreign investments in the country.

Editor, while the pretence of justice and of a justice system plays itself out, these workers whom I represent are left out in the cold.

I appeal to the authorities and in particular, the judiciary, to take a look at themselves.

Yours faithfully, Eon Andrews