Acting President Sam Hinds met workers of the Kwakwani and Everton operations Tuesday to brief them about the decision.

Reading from a prepared message, Mr. Hinds said all employees of BERMINE are to be paid their severance benefits, along with a Training Grant by September 9, 2002.

Initially, August 31 was the set date, but was pushed back because of operational procedures.

Workers are to begin receiving their letters of termination by this weekend in keeping with the Collective Bargaining Agreement's one-month notice.

A press release stated, "a consolidation of the bauxite operations along the Berbice River will be implemented in stages. Beginning from the merger date, ABC will hire a total of 130 persons for reconfigured operations at Kwakwani and Everton to meet BERMINE's existing sales contract and liabilities."

Current employees will be considered first for employment subject to the availability of persons with the desired skills and experience.

After Mr. Hinds spoke, workers of both operations raised issues of concern to them.

The Acting President was questioned whether the severance pay would be taxed, how soon benefits will be paid and the outcome of their contributions to the Pension Plan and Thrift Society.

He told them that these would be considered in keeping with regulations, some of which are already being processed.

Workers will receive house lot allocations to be processed by the Ministry of Housing and Water, as another part of the benefit package.

This move including the merger, the payment of severance benefits and distribution of house lots, was collectively decided by the workers' representatives and President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a series of meetings held in June.

The bauxite industry has for many years faced an economic crisis.

Given the fact that all the workers stood to lose their jobs if the operations collapsed, the Government stepped in and the workers were required to put forward a proposal.

The workers indicated support for the merger between Aroaima Bauxite Company (ABC) and BERMINE.

It was during the meetings with President Jagdeo that workers expressed dissatisfaction with the representation of the Guyana Trades Union Congress saying, "...workers could speak for themselves, that we have been stifled for too long by the union and management."

Mr. Hinds was accompanied by a team of top officials, including Head of the Privatisation Unit, Mr. Winston Brassington, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Mr. Robeson Benn, CEO of BERMINE Mr. John Lewis and Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), Mr. Rohit Persaud.

Prime Minister Hinds also visited the operations of UNAMCO Industries Limited and Aroaima Mining Inc. during the first day of his visit.