We are not educating our workers about working in a world controlled by entrepreneurs

Dear Editor,

I am extremely worried that Guyana is demonstrating that it is the best country not to do business. At a time when a massive influx of business is needed to create earnings for a lot of struggling families, when it is clear to see that the new owners of Simon & Shock prefer to take our lumber across the Atlantic to be processed by workers there instead of here, and when it is already announced that the potential construction of the Amaila hydro will see no more than a 40% involvement of local Guyanese workers, we are still treating our workers as spoilt brats. We are not educating them about the new challenges of working in a world controlled by entrepreneurs and businesspersons, who are not concerned about winning elections, but rather are focused on making their shareholders happy and sustaining profitability.

A manager at a local bauxite company is being berated for admonishing some extremely lax workers who failed to get to work on time. The workers’ excuse is laughable in the environment where I have to perform, and their gripe about the tongue-lashing is preposterous, when in fact it was no more than a crude attempt at a pep talk.

Liven up folks. An owner of a very successful business gave out new sales prices and company sales strategies to his sales staff and said, “If I find out that any one of you is careless with this document and allows it to get into the hands of our competitor, I would personally find you and put a bullet in your head.”

The owner was talking to a group a Caucasians with only one African present – yours truly.    My Guyanese-ness caused me to be surprised at the raw speech, but everyone else laughed.  There were no comments of reporting to some labour organization or talk about slavery. What we understood was that the business owner was extremely serious about our maintaining the company’s sales technique and secrets.

People who should know better are getting into this old fashioned rhetoric about sending the Russians home. They are coming to our country and disrespecting our laws and such like. Haven’t we noticed? The world is changing.  Maybe it passed you by folks. Even the Castro brothers have decided to involve a big bit of capitalism in Cuba. Only they are not calling it by name.   The almost 100% voucher programme is going.  Only a few will be entitled. It will look more like the American model.

Persons will be now be able to open and own businesses, own property and the like. Even Cuba is forced to recognize that communism cannot sustain itself.  If we drive out the Russians who do we have to fill the void?  Let’s flip the coin. How would those who are complaining like to be in the position of the investor? Would they tolerate this behaviour from their workers? Just asking.
Union representatives should not be babysitting employees. A specific union leader felt the heat when he pointed out that the workers at the Barama plant may have erred, as if to say that workers do not err. We cannot be hiding the truth. Those bauxite workers should have made it to work on time, regardless.

In Dallas, just a few months ago, when the Super Bowl came to our area we witnessed two terrible ice storms. Guyana is a paradise when it comes to weather conditions. I opened my back door to get into my pick-up truck and found that the city was blanketed with about 4 inches of ice. It was solid ice, not snow that is mushy. I imagined driving on that stuff and had earlier looked at the weather channel showing persons skidding around. The Guyanese-ness in me told me that I should be in bed. I looked at my phone.  My boss had not texted me about calling off work. I phoned the office and my co-workers were already there. I was the only one running late. If they could have made it surely I must.  I tip-toed into my truck. I drove out of my neighbourhood on ice, experiencing minor skids. I was super careful. I managed to make it on to the freeway. It was better out there. My office is about forty miles from home and after completing about thirty miles I guess my mind told me it was safe so I lost concentration. My vehicle hit a solid patch of ice and lost traction while I was doing about forty miles an hour.

It skidded out of control on the ice, sliding sideways to the right then to the left. As I guided the steering wheel to keep it straight the situation got worse.  I looked over my right shoulder and noticed an eighteen-wheeler slowing down to avoid me. I was sure I was not going to make it as I envisioned sliding under the wheels of the massive truck. The eighteen-wheeler stopped.  My vehicle spun past it and careened hard into the curb wall, facing oncoming traffic. No one crashed into me but the impact mashed my tail lights and right fender. The driver of the truck looked out his window and asked if I was okay. I was. I guessed I had skidded across four lanes for no less than 100 yards. When the truck moved off I took about ten minutes manoeuvering the vehicle to get it to face the right direction.

I drove off from that spot and exited the highway.  It was worse up there, simply driving on solid ice.

I finally found a place to park and burst into tears. Why was I crying? I remembered my beautiful Guyana. I would not have to endure that there. I cursed the idea of having to work in this environment.  I gathered my composure and called my office. After I explained what happened my boss’s only concern was, “Are you Okay?” I answered in the affirmative.

“Well, what time will you get here?” I continued on to work.
Should I say more?

Yours faithfully,
F Skinner