Two weeks pay for frontline workers is disheartening under the circumstances said GPSU

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said it strongly condemns the irregular, arbitrary, anti-trade Union approach  announcement made by President Ali. Ali on Thursday, announced the grant of bonuses equivalent to two weeks’ salary to Health Care Workers.

For days frontline workers took industrial actions demanding better working conditions and risk allowance. The GPSU said the decision to make the award was done without fully engaging with the Union on the matter. This is in conflict with the Trade Union Recognition Act, No.33 of 1997 and ILO Conventions 87, 98 and 151 that were ratified by the Government of Guyana and are in force.

The Union views this announcement as arbitrary, given that the bargaining process was not respected to ensure fairness to Healthcare Workers, who are battling to protect the nation by providing quality healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little or no resources and at risk to their lives and by extension that of their families.

The union in their press release on the matter told the President, Healthcare Workers have been battling COVID-19 for approximately nine months and continuing, not two weeks. Over the past period, these workers have faced tremendous challenges and this would continue until the threat subsides or is permanently removed.  The Union noted that It is clear that the threat has increased way above initial expectations, because of the increased infection and mortality rates. This would obviously increase the risk faced by Healthcare Workers, who because of the sparse protective resources and uniqueness of the virus, could face infection and possibly death. These workers are committed and should therefore be properly rewarded.

Representations were made for transportation to be provided for Healthcare Workers to travel to and from home to avoid cross-infection during the use of public transport. This was taken away by the Administration, further exposing these workers and adding to their financial burden. The fact that transportation cost also increased because of the pandemic has exacerbated the situation. It is also recognized that without taking into consideration the increases in COVID-19 cases, an insensitive and irresponsible decision was taken for the public transportation to operate at its full capacity.

Mr. President, your considered reward of a one off “two weeks’ pay for these workers is disheartening under these circumstances. The Union in its letter to you dated October 20th,2020 addressed the payment of a “risk allowance” for the duration of the pandemic threat. The Union wants to put on record that a bonus is different from risk allowance, but while a bonus is well deserved by these workers, it should not be substituted for a risk allowance. Additionally, a realistic bonus should have been at least one month” tax free salary for these deserving workers. Further, the payment of a risk allowance was agreed in principle between Government representatives and the Union. Hence, the Union is firm on this position and is of the view that it should be retroactive from January 2020

The Guyana Public Service Union is therefore calling on the Government to respect the workers’ rights and value their contributions. The Government must also respect the Laws of the Guyana and the ratified ILO Conventions on collective bargaining, meet and have discussions with the Workers’ Representative (the Union) on all benefits for the workers so as to arrive at an amicable resolution.

The GPSU is calling on all Health Care Workers to display unity and be prepared to take whatever action necessary to put an end to this abuse should this injustice continues.

 

The relationship between Guyana and Brazil  continues with the state visit of Ernesto Araújo, and Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil

The relationship between Guyana and Brazil  continues with the state visit of Ernesto Araújo, and Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil and other senior officials of that Ministry who all paid a working visit to Guyana today.

During the visit, the Minister and his delegation met with His Excellency President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd as well as the Attorney General and the Ministers of Agriculture, Public Works, and Home Affairs.

According to a release from the Office of the President the two sides reviewed the existing programme of cooperation between Guyana and Brazil and have agreed to the implementation of a number of measures aimed at expanding and strengthening collaboration at the bilateral and regional levels within the context of existing cooperation mechanisms.

The office of the president said the two sides also had frank exchanges and agreed on modalities for advancing the cooperation agenda in the areas of infrastructure, trade and investment, health, agriculture, energy, tourism, and security.

They also resumed discussions on the completion of the Guyana-Brazil Road Project

as well as of the implementation of the “International Road Transport

Agreement”; They also discussed pursuing greater collaboration between the health officials as both states continue to grapple with the ill effects of COVID-19; among other issues of importance to the two countries.

The impending visit by H.E. Jair Bolsonaro, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Guyana is anticipated to take place in the new year.

Guns and ammunition found in Berbice River raid. Marijuana field destroyed

The guns and ammunition were found concealed under the floorboards of a house in DeVeldt Village situated on the Eastern Bank of the Berbice River.
The items include one double barrel 12 gauge shotgun #SESPRR, one 20 gauge shotgun #200109495, one .32 shotgun #98015SB, two OPS air guns, nine 12 gauge, one 20 gauge, and five .32 cartridges.
According to a Police report, acting on information received, the ranks went to the house and as the ranks approached the building an identifiable male bolted from the house and made good his escape into some nearby bushes, ranks chased after him but their efforts proved futile.

That operation was conducted by a party of policemen under the command of a Superintendent, the police said.

On the same day, the police ranks proceeded to Gatetroy Village, where a partly harvested marijuana field along with a camp were found with roughly three hundred plants measuring about four to six feet in height. The plants which had an estimated value of $3,400,000 dollars along with the camp were both destroyed by fire.
The guns and ammunition are currently lodged at the Central Police Station.

COVID-19 death toll now 149

The Ministry of Health today recorded another two COVID-19 fatalities, taking the country’s death toll from the disease to 149.

The two latest fatalities recorded are said to be a 69 year old man from Region 2 and a 53 year old woman from Region 4. Both persons, the Ministry said died while receiving treatment at government run facilities.  

The Country’s total COVID-19 cases now stand at 5,236, an increase of 47 new cases. Eight persons are currently in the COVID-19 ICU.  

Meanwhile, the Health Minister said that several students attending government run boarding schools are being monitored as they remain in isolation.  

The students he said are Asymptomatic. Once they have completed the period of isolation, they can then return to the general population at those schools.