Wales estate sugar workers receive final severance

Over 300 retrenched workers from the Wales Estate on Friday turned out to receive the last of their severance payments following the court ruling on December 5, 2018.

Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder during his 2019 Budget presentation had explained that the funds for the payment were secured and GuySuCo is fully prepared to commence payments once Justice Sandil Kissoon made his ruling.

High Court Judge, Justice Kissoon ruled that the workers are to be paid interest in addition to their severance.

On Friday morning the retrenched workers gathered at the estate’s pay office to collect their benefits. The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with some of them who expressed their satisfaction with receiving their payment.

Andrew George told the DPI that he ‘felt good’ having received his payments. After working on the estate for thirteen years, Satrohan Singh remarked that he is ‘glad to know that I’m taking home what I have been working for all these years’.

Another worker Alvin Bradford remarked he is happy to receive his payments and thanked the administration. “I am so relieved because we waited so long for this moment and today is the day for us. I thank President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo for what they did for us today, I’m grateful for it on behalf of myself and all the other cane harvesters.”

(Kaieteur News Online)