As the suspension of scrap metal exports continues, dozens of dealers yesterday staged a picket outside of the Ministry of Business for the reopening of the trade, while claiming that an estimated 1,500 workers were affected.
Armed with placards, the members of the Guyana Metal Recyclers’ Association Inc (GMRA) assembled neatly yesterday morning on South Road in front of the Ministry, where they emphasised that their survival is becoming increasingly difficult since they have not been able to engage in any business for the past year.
“The suspension was effective from June 15 last year and when we did our inquiring, we found out that it was to facilitate the forensic audit which was done. It was completed sometime in December and since then we have been in talks with the Ministry [of Business] to resuscitate and resume the sector since almost 1,500 workers are out of jobs,” the GMRA Secretary Michael Benjamin, told Stabroek News on the picket line yesterday.
