One man who held his young child in his hands said, “I search from Corentyne to New Amsterdam to in Canje here and couldn’t find a job yet”.

The Opposition Leader told them that the next couple of years will be rough, however, the party will support the workers until betterment comes.

Adding to this, workers raised questions relating to their severance pay. “They paying workers based on our basic earnings instead of our gross earnings”, said one person.

Jagdeo told the workers who feel there are irregularities with their expected severance pay to meet with Region Six, PPP/C parliamentarian, Attorney at Law, Adrian Anamayah, who was also present at the meeting to seek legal clarity. He said if after gathering the necessary information irregularities are found, the party will support the workers to challenge the corporation.

Some workers present informed the Opposition Leader that the talk of the town is “whoever get lands won’t get severance”. To this Jagdeo said, “If they are giving you severance, lands and training take them all”.

The workers also told Jagdeo that no-one from the government has yet met with them and explained properly the plans for the affected sugar workers.

However, it was here that one man present jumped up and said, “The 20% promise them make blind all of us”. The entire gathering then agreed with the man by saying “yes”.

One woman from Reliance said, “That is the promise that catch all them workers here”.

Jagdeo stressed to the workers that now is the time to come together as the few years ahead will be “tough” ones.