Many, who attended the stakeholder’s forum held by the government last Wednesday, left the Guyana International Conference Center, uncertain that the average Guyanese worker will benefit in any way from the US$858M, Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.In fact, among some of the fears still harboured is that the Amaila Project resembles the Georgetown Marriott with regards to the employment of Guyanese.The Marriott Hotel under construction in Kingston which has come in for criticism over its exclusive use of Chinese Labour.The question was posed by a stakeholder present, who inquired whether there was a clause enshrined in the agreement to secure employment for Guyanese workers.China Railway First Group has been contracted by Sithe Global to construct the Hydro Project.The Chinese construction company is currently undertaking section ‘seven’ of the Amaila Falls Access Road and has not employed any Guyanese on that venture.The company has further stated that it will not be employing any Guyanese as it proceeds with that section of the access road.Asked about assurances for Guyanese employment on the actual construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, stakeholders were assured that this would happen.President of Sithe Global, Brian Kubeck, indicated that the construction site will attract just about 1,500 persons, of which between 15 to 20 percent of those will be Guyanese.This however is being provided for, using “very discretionary language” as was presented by Sithe Global.Kubeck said that the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with China Railway, ensures that the conditions are made so that Guyanese workers will have work “opportunities.”It was noticed however that discretionary language is being used to “secure” jobs for Guyanese including phrases such as, “reasonable efforts”, “where possible, “as-needed”, “reasonable provisions” and the word “adequate.”None are in fact enforceable in a court of law.The Sithe Global President, in seeking to assure stakeholders even went as far as to say measures have even been put in place for local Guyanese food to be available to the construction workers, as opposed to “Chinese food.”According to Kubeck, Guyanese will be accommodated in the site at the same standard with foreigners and that Sithe Global has an overtime “obligation” to train Guyanese for the senior positions.Sithe Global’s presentation to stakeholders during the consultation, under the heading “Guyana Goods, Services and Labour,” has the following bulleted points.•The Engineering Procurement and Construction contract requires China Railway to undertake the following:–Use reasonable efforts to use materials produced in Guyana by Guyanese citizens, and services provided by Guyanese citizens.–Use reasonable efforts to hire individuals who are Guyanese citizens and resident in Guyana–Actively recruit local,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, qualified citizens of Guyana where possible to work at the AHP site–Advertise upcoming hiring needs by skill category on an as-needed basis in Georgetown, Linden, and the Amerindian villages.–Provide adequate contractor supervisors capable of speaking fluent English to avoid discrimination against Guyanese employees.–Provide housing in the labour camp for Guyanese employees that is equivalent to that provided to employees from the contractor’s country.–Make reasonable provisions for Guyanese workers.Eminent forestry expert, Dr Janette Bulkan, who was also present at the stakeholders’ forum, is among those that have pointed to the language used.According to Dr Bulkan, “…this kind of discretionary language does not match Guyana’s Investment Code of 1988.”She also noted that, “neither the Ministry of Labour nor any other government Ministry has issued any figures on employment of Guyanese, or benefits to the Guyana economy from PAYE and NIS payments from the Marriott or any of the other secretly negotiated investments with Chinese companies awarded large infrastructural projects in Guyana. All such contracts should comply with our Investment Code and with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies.”The Marriott Hotel which is under construction saw no Guyanese labour being used.In fact, the only Guyanese on the Marriott construction site was the security guard.Various officials, in defending the exclusive use of Chinese labour on the project, spoke to the unavailability of Guyanese skills.
