In less than a month after the massive job fair at Patentia, West Bank Demerara (WBD), approximately 100 persons have been hired by the 21 companies that were present at the activity.
Eight hundred jobs were up for grabs at the private sector organised event which was held on January 31, 2018.
Hundreds of sacked Wales’ sugar workers and residents from nearby communities attended with high hopes of landing one of the jobs being offered.
Though only an estimated 100 persons came out of the unemployment bracket, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Eddie Boyer hailed the initiative a success. During an interview with the News Room today, he reasoned that the results mean there are 100 less jobless persons.
Boyer explained that the PSC wanted to host a similar outreach in Enmore where hundreds of sugar workers were made redundant but this was put on hold given the interest of beverage giant DDL in the operations of the estate to maintain its molasses supply.
Boyer said the Commission will be reaching out to DDL to determine if it is still practical to hold a job fair in the area.
When asked by News Room, Boyer said it would be difficult to host a job fair in Berbice, where another batch of workers were retrenched. He explained that it would be difficult since most companies hiring are in Georgetown or its surrounding environs.
The Government’s Special Purpose Unit had announced that 100 cane harvesters would be rehired to cut cane at Rose Hall.
The Unit plans on reopening the Skeldon and Enmore Estates by March month-end to make them more attractive to potential buyers. (Devina Samaroo)
