East Coast Demerara : During a visit to the Enmore Sugar Estate, East Coast Demerara yesterday, by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Simona Broomes, serious health and safety concerns for the workers were highlighted.
“…the condition that they have to work under is really bad and definitely we are going to deal with management. I am going to sit down with the other minister and we are definitely going to be back here,” Minister Broomes said, following an inspection of the estate’s operations.
According to Minister Broomes, prior to touring the facility, a meeting with the manager had given the impression that “they were on top of the ball with health and safety,” but coming out and talking to the workers showed a different situation, she said.
“Workers being here for three years and not being permanent staff, these are some issues that we have to deal with immediately, and I have asked the senior officer to take some of the genuine concerns and we will prioritise them, we are going to investigate and we are going to come back to the managers and ensure that these requirements will be met,” she said.
Of particular concern for the new Minister was the fact that the men who work in the boiler room were not outfitted with the proper safety and health gear. “…They cannot be facing all that heat like a fireman in a cloth overall, that is very dangerous,” she said.
The Minister noted that these men are boiling water mixed with chemicals and must be properly protected as they are faced with all kinds of danger.
“They (management) need to tighten on that … the safety,” the Minister said, adding that, “it is so overwhelming, with the number of complaints, the staff are pleased that now they have a new government and a government that will approach the people and listen to them and not only listen, but definitely find solutions to their problems.”
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