No Pay for CGA Workers Amid Dire Financial Straits
The Citrus Growers Association, a representative organization of approximately two hundred and fifty small growers, remains in financial ruin. We have covered extensively the dire situation that the C.G.A. has found itself in, a dilemma that goes back to 2016 and has now landed the association on the brink of bankruptcy. This evening, several of its employees reached out to News Five expressing discontent with the association for failure to meet their bi-monthly salaries. The management of the C.G.A. has also not been paid for the past three months and creditors have since moved in to crowfoot the assets of the association. According to Davis Marshall, an information technology officer who has been working with C.G.A. for the past fourteen years, despite a meeting with the administration, there is no sign of a payment on the horizon for employees and basic amenities and utilities are already being cut out from the C.G.A. office.
On the Phone: Davis Marshall, Information Technology Officer, CGA
“So far for the month of October we have not received any salaries, management has not received any salaries for the past three months.”
Isani Cayetano
“What is the situation insofar as the reason behind you guys not being paid in a timely manner?”
On the Phone: Davis Marshall
“Cash flow problems at the Citrus Growers Association. Also, our benefits like the social security contributions are not being paid, income tax is not being paid. I know about one [former] employee who has resigned and has still not collected his gratuity.”
Isani Cayetano
“Okay, now you guys, like most other Belizeans, have bills and obligations that you need to meet on a monthly basis, if I may. How are you guys managing not being able to collect your salaries and then you have bills mounting?”
On the Phone: Davis Marshall
“Well we all have responsibilities, we have children. We have our homes to take care of and we are making this call to the media now because then the staff has reached a limit and the staff came to me and said, “You know what Davis, we cannot handle it anymore.”
Isani Cayetano
“Have you guys collectively met with the management? I know you’ve mentioned that they too have not been collecting salaries for the past three months. Have you guys met to discuss the way forward in terms of getting the finances of the association back on track enough for you guys to collect your pay?”
On the Phone: Davis Marshall
“Well management said that they are working on some proposal based on the meeting that they had with the prime minister but so far it has been farfetched. They are not coming out clearly to us and telling us what’s the plan.”
