Timber workers down tools over power, water woes

By Svetlana Marshall

An unreliable electricity supply and a lack of wholesome water have triggered workers of the Demerara Timbers Limited, Mabura Hill, Region 10, to take industrial actions, bringing an abrupt halt to the logging operation.
On Wednesday, 99 per cent of the Guyanese timber employees, residents, businessmen and women, downed tools and took to the streets to vent their frustration as they called on the administration of Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) to restore the 24-hour electricity supply and wholesome water.

The residents warned that if their demands are not met, the protest will continue. Speaking with Guyana Times International, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Field Secretary Mandat Singh said the management of the logging company reduced the hours of electricity supply to nine hours per day without any proper notification and explanation, adding this move must be reversed.
Initially, the company had blamed the Linden protest for its inability to secure electricity to effectively operate the power plant, but Singh posited that this explanation is no longer valid.
Another union representative Angela Henry explained that electricity is supplied three times a day as against the 24 hours to which residents of Mabura are accustomed. “We get electricity from 4: 00h to 6: 00h in the morning, then from 10: 00h to 12: 00h and then from 17: 00h to 10: 00h.”
The effects of such an electricity supply system is damaging Henry lamented. According to Henry, who is also an employee of the logging company for the past three months, the health centre within the community has been flooded with hypertension cases.
“Persons cannot sleep at nights and it appears as though they are taking on the situation, because many persons blood pressure are very high, what else would explain this!” she lamented.
Additionally, Henry noted that a huge quantity of medical supplies such as vaccines has spoiled due to the fluctuation in electricity supply. “I have turned a vegetarian,” the DTL worker posited as she turned her attention to another damaging effect, noting that their animal products, fruits and vegetables spoil on a frequent basis due to the shortage in electricity supply.
“Even our appliances are being damaged, persons are complaining about their refrigerators and freezers getting damaged, the government needs to step in.”
Another employee of the company who prefers to remain anonymous, in frustration told this publication that the “Malaysians operating here at Mabura (owners of the company) are discriminating against local workers and residents… lights are only given to the Malaysians at nights while Guyanese who are the backbone of the operation are left in the darkness. The situation was not like this before they came to our country.”
Light is not the only issue she posited, lamenting that residents and employees of Mabura Hill are “sick and tired” of the poor quality of water supplied to the people.
According to the resident, the water is rarely treated with chlorine, resulting in residents falling sick with diarrhea and other water borne diseases. It is time the government of Guyana steps in and represent the Guyanese society before it is too late, the woman warned.
Reports indicate that GAWU and the management of DTL are in discussions.