President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud has noted that her organization is compiling a database of the skills existing in communities where retrenched sugar workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) reside.
Speaking during an event hosted in the community of Enmore, East Coast Demerara on Sunday evening, she noted that her organization will use the information to help in the training of persons and assist them with gaining employment.
“We want to offer you training, we want to set up something whereby you can earn a livelihood and it can be sustainable. So I want you to help us with this process so that we can get that information from you; the women, the men, what skills you have? Whether its agriculture or sewing –let us put that together and let us see how we can train you a little more and let us see how we can set up some small industries so that you can at least earn to support your family,” Dr Persaud told those gathered at Enmore.
Twenty students in the Community were presented with bursaries from the Dharmic Sabha, while approximately 100 families of ex-sugar workers received hampers.
Dr. Persaud said she hopes that the contribution will bring some sense of security to those persons who would have lost their jobs at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at the end of 2018, as she promised that her organization will stand with them during their challenges.
Dr. Persaud noted that the bursaries are given out every year through the Dr. Reepu Daman Persaud foundation in memory of her father. The 20 bursaries given to students in Enmore is only a fraction of what is being given out across the country. She explained that 82 bursaries are being given out this year since her father would have celebrated his 82nd birthday this year.
The retrenched sugar workers of the Enmore Estate received their severance late last month.
The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has expressed an interest in setting up a Special Purpose Company with the Government to manage the operations of the Enmore Estate on the East Coast of Demerara.
The PSC promised retrenched workers that once the private sector takes control of the Enmore Estate, they can regain employment.
