CHINESE workers attached to the Beijing Luijing Construction Company were free to leave their living quarters in Cunupia and go whenever they pleased yesterday.
This was not the case on Saturday, when security guards locked the gates to the compound, preventing former Chaguanas MP Manohar Ramsaran and a group of people from entering the compound to distribute food and Divali treats to the workers.
The workers shot into the spotlightlast Tuesday, when they staged a protest along the Uriah Butler Highway complaining that the company was mistreating them and had not paid them wages for two months, claims the company has denied.
On Saturday, the workers were again in the limelight when the security guards locked them into their living quarters at Chatee Trace, Cunupia, to prevent Ramsaran and his delegation from gaining access.
Yesterday when the Express visited the compound, however, the workers were free to roam wherever they pleased,
The area is largely agricultural but there is not much in the way of amenities other than the neighbourhood bar and a small grocery. There are houses around but they are concentrated mainly in one area, with the rest of land dedicated towards farming.
The workers quarters is in the middle of farmland located just off the side of a not-very-well paved road.
The first person who greeted the Express news team yesterday afternoon was a heavily built private security guard.
’It eh the workers we trying to keep in, is allyuh (media) we trying to keep out,’ said the officer, who did not want to give his name.
While trying to get photos of the workers on the site, he advised, ’This is private property ... no photos!’
However, the Express did see some of the workers moving around freely in the village nearest to the camp. Close by, one worker had a Coca Cola in hand as he and his friend chatted in their native tongue in a small shed.
As if to make a point, two of the other guards joined their burly colleague, now looking at the Express over an almost six-foot wall, and attempted to hand the news team two styrotex boxes of food, challenging reports that the workers were not being fed.
’Nobody being kept here against their will, allyuh reporters not easy at all,’ the officer said.
The Express also had a brief chat with some of the nearby villagers.
’Them fellas does be out all hours,’ said a man who did not want to be named.
’But I eh know bout that slavery thing,’ he continued.
