The Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has made public the donation of his entire April salary to purchase return airline tickets for 28 Indian nationals who were allegedly trafficked to Guyana and left stranded. He noted that 5 of them are to be returned home by the company, with 4 of the workers deciding to stay in Guyana and work for other companies. The workers, who were contracted by EKAA Quarry, he says, found themselves abandoned without salaries, basic support, or clear pathways to return to their home country.
Mohamed noted his direct intervention in a video published on his Team Mohamed’s page this morning. In the video, he stated that he personally stepped in to support the 37 stranded laborers after witnessing their desperate situation left unaddressed by official channels. He announced that he utilized his entire monthly salary for April, combining it with substantial funds from his personal resources, to help cover the costly airfare back to India.
In the video, Mohamed noted that four Guyanese businessmen stepped in to assist with financial backing necessary to secure the return tickets.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that EKAA Quarry has failed to honor its commitments to the contracted laborers. Sources reveal that the company continues to withhold approximately $2,500 USD from each worker, funds initially deducted from their earnings as a “security deposit.” Some workers have reportedly been informed bluntly that these funds will not be returned to them. While the workers remain left in limbo, Mohamed noted that operations at EKAA Quarry appear to be continuing as “business as usual,” despite the allegations of human trafficking and labour exploitation.
Mohamed further raised concerns over the visible absence of support from the Indian High Commission in Georgetown. Despite the stranded individuals being Indian nationals, he said there has been little to no public engagement from the diplomatic mission regarding their accommodation, meals, welfare, or repatriation arrangements.
The Ministry of Labour has not yet released an official statement regarding potential actions against EKAA Quarry or investigations into the trafficking allegations.
