Sentinel Security guards strike over unpaid salaries

Security guards attached to Sentinel Security Incorporated in New Amsterdam, Berbice, have gone on strike, alleging that they have not been paid for months.

The guards, who provide security services for major companies including DSL Guyana, Beharry Group of Companies, and Guyana Beverage Distributors, say they have not been paid since October.

After staging a three-day sit-out last week, the guards say they have now taken the decision to fully withdraw their labour, insisting they can no longer work without pay.

“When we ask the company for money, they say they don’t have money. We go to Labour [Ministry], every week they promise, and until now we ain’t get no money. We got house bills to pay, rent to pay, and we got to eat,” vented Bhojkumar Ramsundar.

“I been working with them since 2010. I ain’t get paid since October…We living in rented house, and we get notice to move out. We don’t know where we going now,” added Michael Quintin.

Some workers also accused the company of deducting National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions while failing to submit payments, placing their future benefits at risk.

INews Guyana made attempts to contact both the company and the Ministry of Labour for comments on the situation but up to the time of publication of this article, none were forthcoming.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had previously addressed the issue of security companies failing to pay employees’ remittances to the NIS. In 2024, Jagdeo said he was met with many complaints from security guards who disclosed that NIS sums are being deducted from their salaries but are not paid to the insurance scheme.

Months after the Vice President announced that the government will be going after companies that are culpable, NIS had collected over $200 million in backdated contributions for employees of security firms.