Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir yesterday appointed the arbiters for the sugar wage dispute which crippled the industry for three days this week.

Dr. Gobind Ganga (chairman), Major General (Retired) Norman McLean and Yoganand Mahadeo comprise the Arbitration Tribunal for the wages imbroglio between the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union.

A press release from the Ministry of Labour noted that following the deadlock on August 25 in the talks between the two, Nadir declared that the continuance of the dispute is likely to be gravely injurious to the national interest and as such under the Labour Act imposed compulsory arbitration.

The press release said the remit of the tribunal is “To enquire into the difference between the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union as it relates to wages and salaries to be paid to those categories of employees of the Corporation that are represented by the Union for the year 2008, and to make an award as the tribunal deems fit.”

Dr. Gobind Ganga is an Economist and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Major General Mclean is a former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff and, according to the press release, well known for his professional skills and was involved in similar arbitrations before, while Mahadeo is a qualified chartered accountant within the private sector.