JISCO Alpart workers to lose jobs

A large number of workers will be out of jobs in Nain, St Elizabeth, in the next two months, as production will be discontinued for phase two of the modernisation and expansion programme at the JISCO/Alpart.

People's National Party caretaker for the St Elizabeth South East constituency, Dr Dwaine Spencer, told THE CENTRAL STAR that the discontinuation of production will impact communities in the parish.

"Speaking as a business operator in St Elizabeth, it will affect us," he said. Spencer said that up to 400 workers may be out of jobs. He believes that there are steps the government could have taken to prevent to closure.

"We were hoping the government would have stepped in by offering them incentives or speaking to an accountant or something," he said. "I'm sure they wouldn't make such a move without considering their financial standing."

President of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), Kavan Gayle, says the union is very concerned.

DELINQUENT LENDERS

"This fallout will create a serious problem on workforce." This comes at a bad time", he said. Gayle says this situation will create delinquent lenders, as workers who will be laid off would've taken loans and borrowed from credit unions while depending on their salaries to repay those loans.

Attempts to get comments from executives at JISCO Alpart up to press time proved futile.