Canadian Mining Company fails to pay its Guyanese workforce; employees fear exploited

 

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Sacre Coeur Minerals Ltd, a Canadian Mining company which holds 100% interest in approximately 978 square kilometers of mineral concessions in Guyana, has reportedly fallen short on payment to its Guyanese workforce of approximately 150 persons, employees have complained.

Reports are that employees were paid little or in some instances no money over the last year (August 2013 – August 2014) amid much promises, all of which the Company has failed to honor.

Speaking to iNews, 33 – year – old Gregory Bobb, a former Drill Helper and Mines Foreman, claimed he is owed in excess of $2 million by the company.

“I survived on my savings… it was just promises and more promises. Sometimes they would give us money here and there and claimed they didn’t have more at the time. They even promised to sell the equipment to pay us but up to now nothing, but they renting buildings and paying for security services millions a months,” the father of one told iNews.

The man, who has already solicited legal presentation and is now awaiting a response from the company, recalled and presented his contract and pay slips to show that since June 2013, the company began dropping back in payments.

Bobb, through his Attorney, asked the company to make full payments to him within two week, if not he warned that prompt and drastic legal action will be taken against them.

The distressed Bobb recalled too what he said were empty promises by the General Manager, Bjorn Jeune. He claimed that the company was indebted to hundreds more Guyanese employees and service providers which amounts to millions; adding that his $2 million plus was the highest they owed any single person.

He claimed he has been ignored in recent weeks when he tried to make arrangements to be paid after his service was terminated on August 14, 2014.

“I went there a day and they lock the gate and was inside and not answering, and I know they inside because is not now I working with them is since 2011,” he added.

Bobb claimed that even the Labour Ministry has been giving him “the royal run around” in investigating the matter.

“I report it to them and every time you go is come back tomorrow, I was told that the boss man get a sister who is a big one in the Labour Ministry.”

iNews was able to reach Human Resource Manager/ Payroll Administrator, Dawn Austin earlier on her phone but was denied a comment and asked to return a call.

Subsequent calls to her phone went unanswered.

iNews had reported earlier this year that a group of just about 15 young Guyanese are fearful that that have been manipulated and ripped millions by a Trinidadian Company that established a Call Center – QUSET – in Guyana in November 2013. They are yet to be paid and have complained of the attitude of officials at the Labour Ministry as well.