After working with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)
for three decades, until an accident forced him off
the job four years ago, Jagdesh Persaud claims that
he is being pushed around in his claims for
compensation from the Corporation and benefits from
the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Persaud, of 165 Leonora Parafield, West Coast
Demerara, started working with the Corporation in
1976 as an ordinary worker, and until the time of
his accident, he worked as a tractor operator. On
December 31, 2006, Persaud was getting off the
tractor when he slipped and fell, injuring his back.
However, he has not yet received compensation from
the Corporation, and he says after paying NIS over
those years he should be entitled to benefits as he
is now unable to work and take care of his family.
On July 4, 2007, Persaud appeared before the Medical
Board of the NIS, which found that he had a
degenerative disease of his entire spinal column and
that he is incapable of working because of the
industrial accident.
However, in two months time, Persaud was called
again before another Medical Board of the NIS. This
time the ruling was there was no disability arising
out of the accident and there was no incapacity to
work relative to the accident.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
protested the second decision of the NIS Medical
Board, pointing out the findings of the first
Medical Board report that Persaud’s condition was
as a result of the industrial accident.
The NIS decided to set up another Medical Board and
to have Persaud appear before it in January, 2008.
This time, the Medical Board said “there is
incapacity for work as a cane cutter” and
recommended a Permanent Partial Disability of five
percent to take care of the injuries.
Persaud said he had received $200,000 from the NIS,
but said that he should be receiving regular
benefits, having contributed to the Scheme over
those long 30 years he worked with the Corporation.
The man has received no compensation for the Sugar
Corporation, which had promised to look into his
claim. The man said he is always promised a call
whenever he enquires, but nothing has resulted after
three years of running around.