LEN staff biting their fingers

UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES SWIRLING around the 15-member staff of
the perennially-troubled Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) who were all let go on December 31,
but hurriedly re-employed by the government at the start of the new year.
Since their recall, LEN Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Taniza Gasper, has not been issued
contracts to any of the recalled staff and neither have they received salaries for January 2022.
LEN workers frustration stewed and simmered until it boiled over Friday with staff reportedly
walking off the job according to credible reports reaching this media house.
On their en bloc dismissal in December, a still-peeved employee explained: “We received no
prior warning or notice; we were just informed on the last working day of the year that we are
not to report for work on the first working day in 2022 as we no longer had contracts and our
faith lies with the Ministry of Finance. I guess you could understand the confusion, hurt and
disappointment that we faced considering that we all have families and most importantly
responsibilities.”
“They have asked us to return today (Tuesday) to work but unfortunately it is clear that some
persons may soon be permanently put out of work, while we are not told if this ‘return to work’
is temporary or permanent, as it seems like only the Finance Minister (Dr Ashni Singh) and CEO
(Gasper) are aware of the arrangements, if any at all (is) in place,” another employee said.
Gasper had told all LEN staff not to return to work on January 03 (the first working day of the
year) since their contracts expired.
The staff, which included clerical and security workers, were floored by the CEO’s shocking
announcement.
One of the employees noted that the LEN building housed several valuable company assets and
sending home even the security was testimony that no value, care and/or consideration had been
placed on those assets.

“Imagine sending everybody home, locking up the building and sadly the CEO indicated that this
was originally for a period of seven days, so you can imagine that most of LEN assets were not
being secured and protected as they should because there was no security. There was no one to
come daily to turn on and off the lights and more importantly denying the people of Linden
service for seven days tells a powerful message that the people of Linden are not valued or
important to the decision markers. Thankfully, the minister intervened and sorted this out
somewhat,” a visibly disappointed employee said.
Another employee decried the inhumane treatment meted out to the LEN workers.
“This isn’t the way to treat human beings. I can tell you that I am desperate to find something
else as I believe that the government and those in office seem determined to not respect and
acknowledge the people of Linden. I hate seeing things politically but you can’t help when the
entire staff, without warning, was sent home and only because there were a lot of noise that the
Finance Minister intervenes without any clear instruction as to what will happen,” the employee
said.
Another stressed, “This is pure nonsense as we were notified verbally by Ms. Gasper to return to
work today and my gut feeling tells me that while she is blaming the government, it’s her poor
and inefficiency that has us in this situation. I mean, the government gets to be brazen (and) bold
to have endorsed such an action – to send employees home – with no clear indication as to their
approach.”
However, while the staff have returned to work many are anticipating what they term as “spiteful
and vindictive action” towards them for speaking out and highlighting their dilemma. They said
that the pressure and stress they are working under seem far from finishing, adding that the CEO
evidently has a sinister agenda.
“Many of us have given years of service, we have worked throughout the COVID 19 pandemic
and have gone beyond the call of duty. The least the government can do is to address our
concerns, and if they feel by allowing one person who evidently has her/his personal interest
ahead of others then we will continue to see destruction of both institution and the staff,” the
employee predicted.

Several attempts by www.aroundtheregions.com to contact Region Ten (Upper
Demerara/Berbice) Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr. Dwight John proved futile.
Mr. John is currently performing the duties of Company Secretary for LEN.