Months ago, a former Government part-time worker left her job in Guyana and went for an extended stay in another territory. However, in Guyana, her salary is still being processed and collected in her name. An investigation has been launched into the situation.
Oemwattie Khandai, called ‘Debbie’, was employed as a Government part-time worker, and carried out duties at the Number 56 Primary School from February 2022 until she departed Guyana in June 2023.
Khandai officially quit her job before she departed, but her name is still on the payroll, and someone has been collecting her salary for the past few months since she migrated.
“I had worked up to the month of May, and received my May month salary in the first week of June. However, I left the country on June 10, and haven’t returned since then,” the woman said as she expressed how perturbed she is about the issue.
Khandai also showed this publication a copy of her passport, which substantiates her claim that she left the country in June and has not returned. The woman has expressed concern that her name and identification card details are being used by someone else to uplift money purportedly on her behalf.
“I overheard some saying why hasn’t my name been removed, since I am no longer working there; and why is my name still coming on the payroll on to this date. I want the Region [Regional Administration] to be aware that I am out of the country, and I do not hold any responsibility for any money received under my name,” the woman said.
This publication understands that salaries have been paid in the name of Oemwattie Khandai up to the month of September 2023. The money is sent from the Regional Administration to the 52-63 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). An investigation has reportedly since been launched into the matter.
Meanwhile, some part-time workers who fall in that jurisdiction told this publication that on many occasions their names have been taken off the time sheet, indicating that they did not work when in fact they did work. They contend that they are not paid for those days.
Some believe that their full salaries are sent from the Regional Administration, but they receive only a part.
Those workers say they are fearful of victimisation if they go public, and are scared that it might result in them losing their jobs.
This publication has been informed that Government 10-day part-time workers attached to the Crabwood Creek-Moleson Creek NDC are also experiencing issues similar to those which some in the 52-63 NDC claim they are experiencing. One worker told this publication that a racket is being run there with the 10-day employment.
Only recently, two men came forward stating that they never worked with the Port Mourant NDC, but salaries were being processed in their names. The overseer who was attached to the NDC has since resigned after the issue was reported in the media and the Finance Ministry launched an investigation.
According to a letter from the Local Government Commission to NDC Chairman Vimen Armogan, dated September 26, 2023, the overseer “voluntarily terminated” his services. As such, the Commission has advised the NDC to advertise the vacancy.
Thousands of persons across the country have found employment under the Government’s part-time jobs initiative, which was rolled out last year as part of a suite of measures implemented to cushion the rising cost of living. The initiative has allowed for one person per household to work in public offices in close proximity to their homes for 10 days per month and earn $40,000.
