Integrated Security Services’ guards stage protest over unpaid wages
A number of security guards from Region Five, employed by the security firm, Integrated Security Services, yesterday staged protest action outside the administrative office of the Regional Democratic Council in Fort Wellington, all in their efforts to get the administration of the security firm to pay their outstanding wages, and to address a number of other matters of concern to the workers.
Workers are contending that the firm, which took over from Home Safe Security Services towards the end of last year, had promised to pay wages on the second Friday of each month, but so far the company has failed to keep that promise, with some workers not having been paid as yet for this year. Workers made their plight public last month through this publication, as well as Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal and Member of Parliament Harry Gill, who became involved and promised to assist in getting the company to honour its obligation to the workers. However the situation as of yesterday was that workers were quite disappointed and agitated to the point of manifesting their frustration in the form of protest action. According to Regional Chairman Ramphal, after listening to the workers a few weeks ago, he did make contact with the Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Security Services, Mr. Ghalee Khan, who had promised to meet with the workers, as well as to pay them in full. Khan reportedly did not keep those promises. Mr. Ramphal has said that following yesterday’s protest, he was able to make contact with CEO Khan again, who has promised to make full payment to the disenchanted workers by tomorrow (March 16). There is no word as to when the other grievances of the workers will be addressed. The private security company is contracted to provide security services for the Government of Guyana, and the workers embroiled in the impasse have been tasked to maintain security presence at government installations throughout Region Five, such as hospitals, schools, and health centres.
(Kaieteur News)