Rose Hall Estate workers, pensioners protest over delay in payments

Scores of workers and pensioners yesterday demonstrated in front of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, protesting the delay of their one week holiday and ten-year pay.

Later in the afternoon, the workers and pensioners were told that they would receive their money on Monday.

Workers and pensioners yesterday told Stabroek News that they took action after they learned that GuySuco did not have money to pay them.

One distraught pensioner, Basanti, 79, from Goed Bananen Land, said she paid passage to Rose Hall in the morning and was told to return at three. On returning at three, she was then told that money was not available to be paid. “Me a borrow money from somebody to come and go every time,” she said. “Me depend on me money to use.”

A worker from Canefield Canje, expressed his frustration as well. He said, “These people have no respect for the people. They didn’t even send out a circular to say that they were not going to pay.”

Most pensioners who turned up yesterday morning and could not afford to return home and come back at three, spent the entire day in the sun at the side of the road, waiting to be paid.

Efforts to meet the Estate Manager yesterday proved futile, as media operatives were told that he was in a meeting. However, according to information gathered, workers who receive their pay through the bank were to be paid later in the afternoon, while all other workers and pensioners were expected to be paid on Monday.