“I shouldn’t be made to suffer”

—fired NICIL/SPU cancer patient and cleaner Abena Gray—

EMBATTLED cancer patient Abena Gray was stunned when the National Industrial and
Commercial Investments Limited/ Special Projects Unit (NICIL/SPU) suddenly fired her.
Gray who was a cleaner at NICIL feels unfairly targeted because she was not a “big one” hired
by the state-run agency which controls billions of dollars of national assets.
“Is it because I am a cleaner and don’t have no one to turn to that I am being targeted? If I was a
‘big one’ I don’t think I would have lost my job without any explanation being given,” King
said.
She feels she was made a scapegoat by the authorities because several persons who were
involved in the divisive and bitter 2020 National and Regional polls are still employed at NICIL.
Gray who is a single parent has been waging an ongoing battle with cancer and is unsure where
her next meal is coming from considering.
So far though, some NICIL employees have been playing the Biblical ‘Good Samaritan’ to her.
“I am a bit blessed as there are some employees of NICIL who still reach out to me as they are
very concerned about my situation. They help me out with food and to some extent my rent but
like anything else, they cannot do this forever as they have their own responsibility.”
“I am desperate for a job, but I am really hurt as I was never involved in the political mess and
shouldn’t be made to suffer,” the grateful King noted.
Like Gray, NICIL driver for a decade, Haslyn Heyliger was also blindsided by his sudden
dismissal.
‘Everyone knew that I was never involved in the politics. I went to work and did my job
professionally because I felt that is what I was being paid for and to see that I am being made to

suffer for whatever issues that there is with the government and Heath-London I am very hurt
and disappointed,” Heyliger told www.aroundtheregions.com in an exclusive interview.
The husband and father said it has been nerve-wracking trying to maintain his family and taking
care of all his financial responsibilities when suddenly out of a job.
“Waking up and not having a job to take care of my family and myself is painful and very
stressful as I have always worked to take care of my family and that is what I want to continue
doing. I am appealing to the relevant authorities to look into my matter as I was a driver and that
is all I did. Drive.”
Heyliger’s fault was driving for Colvin Heath-London, the former head of the Special Projects
Unit (SPU), who fell out of favour with the incumbent administration and was fired as NICIL’s
acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The dismissals of the two low-level workers raised public eyebrows and reportedly upset Vice
President Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
Heyliger and King appealed their unfair dismissal to Attorney General and Minister of Legal
Affairs Anil Nandlall who reviewed their cases after studying their dismissal letters from NICIL.
Heyliger also took his case to current CEO of NICIL Mr. Radha Krishna Sharma for fresh
assessment.
Sharma claimed the SPU is being disbanded although a driver and five employees are working as
per normal at the entity.
“I have said to RK Sharma that we have to review the situation as we are not a government who
dismisses employees without a just cause and I will certainly address those two former
employees issue this week,” Nandlall assured.
He and Jagdeo have been working behind the scenes overturning several dismissals of workers
which have proven clearly prejudicial.
Sources close to www.aroundtheregins.com have disclosed the two senior government
officials have demanded a review of Gray and Heyliger’s dismissal with a view of ensuring
their possible reemployment.