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WEEKEND MIRROR 29-30 MAY, 2021
Labour Ministry recovers $19.2M GPL’s 46.5-megawatt power generation plant for employees treated unfairly set for mid-August finish M ‒ PM says gov’t will not sacrifice efficiency for expediency
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rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, this week conducted an on-site inspection of the 46.5-megawatt power generation plant being constructed by Wärtsilä, at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Garden of Eden Power Station. It is expected that the plant will begin its testing phase in early June 2021 and will become fully operational a few months after. The Prime Minister said that although there was extensive work done since his last visit in October 2020, the Government understands that the project’s original date of completion would not be met. He pointed out that the main objective is to give Guyanese a quality product and indicated that efficiency will not be sacrificed for
expediency. He said, “We have to work with the contractor to ensure that what is delivered here to the people of Guyana is in keeping with the same high standard, quality and reputation that Wärtsilä has internationally… A lot of work has been done, but the work has been affected negatively by COVID-19 and the weather conditions”. As a result, the project which was scheduled to be completed by the end of June, will now be finished in August 2021. The Prime Minister had said that the project was a part of the Government’s plan for reliable electricity and will greatly enhance the consistency of electric power in the Demerara – Berbice Interconnected System. Minister within the
Ministry of Public Works, Honourable Deodat Indar, who accompanied the Prime Minister, said that the new power generation facility is the biggest project in terms of single location generating capacity. He said, “There are two parts of the project which will cause the extra delay, which are the transformers and the fuel tank, we have an alternative arrangement for fuel, because we have an existing facility here, but the plant itself will be testing during June and July… we want to make sure that when the project comes fully on stream there will be no issues, because it’s the biggest project in terms of single location generating capacity”. Also present was Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Bharat Dindyal.
inister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton has said his Ministry was able to recover over $19.2 million for employees who suffered after their employers had breached the labour laws. Minister Hamilton made this disclosure Tuesday (May 25, 2021) during a press conference held at the Ministry’s boardroom. He said the Ministry has received about 729 complaints since the PPP/C Administration took office up to May this year. Of that number, 477 complaints were filed in 2021. These range from leave without pay, overtime, status of employment, deductions from wages and other infractions. He said, “Complaints were investigated with a view of arriving at amicable settlement and so far, we have closed 640 of these matters and a total six charges were
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lall and Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, on the proposed works for the enhancement of the community. The works are intended to enhance the community ahead of Guyana’s 55th Independence Anniversary. The Minister and his team distributed the hampers using a ticket system implemented before the distribution, and under strict COVID-19 guidelines. Speaking on the side-
lines of the activity, the Minister said, “I made a commitment that I will help them with hampers. We distributed 400 tickets and this afternoon we’re on the ground to distribute 400 hampers to the 400 households that received tickets.” From the onset of the pandemic, the PPP/C has been partnering with various stakeholders to distribute relief hampers to households nationwide.
Ministry’s OSH Department. Minister Hamilton said while the Government is pro-business and encourages investments and job creation, these must be done in a manner that will ensure workers rights are protected and the country’s laws are upheld. He said, “We don’t want to shut down any site as the Government’s position is that we are open for business, and that we support all developmental programmes in this country as well as the private sector. But it must be done within the law and anytime it is not being done within the law, we will engage and hopefully, people follow the law. Once you follow, we will have less problems.” The Ministry of Labour was re-established as a separate entity when the PPP/C returned to office in August 2020.
Education Ministry launches QuizMe Platform ‒ to prep students for upcoming NGSA examination
he Ministry of Education East Ruimveldt residents benefit T has launched its online QuizMe platform to provide an additional education resource from promised COVID support for children preparing for this inister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Tuesday (May 25, 2021) delivered some 400 hampers to the East Ruimveldt community, honouring a commitment he made to the residents to help cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister met the residents late last week, along with Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharam-
filed against delinquent employers for breach of the various labour legislation, and a total of six cases closed. We have been able thus far since we have arrived here, to ensure that $19.2 million gets to the pocket of workers because of the recalcitration of employers.” Minister Hamilton urged employers to observe Guyana’s Labour Act and its Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) regulations. He said, “If you don’t want to obey the law then believe me that it will become a thing recurring because our position is that everyone must obey the law, and the law says if you have a building constructing then there are things that you must do.” He said legal action will be taken against business owners who fail to adhere to recommendations of the
year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Minister, Priya Manickchand, introduced the platform at a ceremony held in the Smart Room of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) on Tuesday (May 25, 2021). She said the platform is another tool the Ministry has provided to help students, in the wake of the pandemic. QuizMe provides exam quality multiple choice questions that students can practice as they prepare for the NGSA. “This year on the NGSA particularly, is the year that Guyana has found it hardest in many respects and definitely in education. [This] is the year Guyana will, with political and the supporting financial
resources, give to her students the most than any other student has ever had in the history of this country,” the Minister said. In addition to the online programme, students are also benefitting from a consolidated curriculum through the NGSA booster programme and other resources, to ensure their success. She said, “NGSA students this year, in 2021, are receiving all the text books, all the past papers, all the worksheets, all the resources, notes, things they never got before in any other year.” The Education Ministry has also collaborated with the two main internet service providers to ensure that students are able to access the websites. Meanwhile, Head of the Ministry’s Information System, Mr. Phil Mingo said the team decided to re-assess the usefulness of the quiz platform which was developed back in 2014, to determine whether it
could respond to the challenges faced by students, teachers and parents during COVID. He said the programme can work on any device and is also designed t0 help students who are visually impaired. Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson said he is pleased that the Ministry has been able to provide another means to help NGSA students succeed. He said, “I am indeed happy that our students have been given different avenues to do well at the NGSA. They’ve been given different avenues so what we’ve seen here today is just another method as to how we can improve their performance in terms of the results that we will see.” The facility is expected to be enhanced with the necessary resources to reach the needs of students at all levels in the school system. The link can be accessed here: https://education.gov.gy/ quizme/
