At a press conference recently, Guyana Water Inc. CEO Shaik Baksh admitted to the firing of over 300 staff back in 2020, claiming it was done to save the company money. The CEO boasted that the plan has resulted in the company now saving millions of dollars in employment costs monthly.
“We undertook a review of the staffing structure and the organizational structure, which was completed within a couple of months and was implemented. In August 2020, when the new management took over, the staffing complement was 1320 employees and through a process that was consultative with all levels of employees at GWI, including the top managers, and in discussions, we were able to identify the new organizational structure, the organizational chart for each department and unit, and over the last 18 months, we were able to bring down the employment numbers to just under 1000. To be precise, 998 as of today’s date” CEO Baksh said.
Baksh is of the opinion that with the “firings” over the past 18 months the company is now in a better financial position. The position of the GWI CEO is far cry from what his party promised during the 2020 election campaign. The PPP had promised to create 50,000 jobs for Guyanese.
The Opposition APNU+AFC has long accused the PPPC regime of firing thousands of public servants since being installed in Government in August of 2020. Yesterday’s press statement by the GWI CEO- a political appointee and executive member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), vindicate the Opposition APNU+AFC claims of mass firings in the public service by the installed PPPC Government.
Former GWI CEO Van West Charles had described the firing at a press conference last year as “aimed at destroying the progress made in the water sector by APNU+AFC.” For the first time in Guyana’s history Georgetown and many other areas across Guyana receiving 24 hours water service, the former CEO noted. The GWI Chief Executive Officer told the media that with the firings, the company is now able to save some $240 million in employment costs.
The Opposition is concerned that the Government continues to put the lives of Guyanese and their families on the “bread line” in order to make up for its wasteful spending and corruption.
