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| …agency branches close doors, agents relocated “They told us the company solid and now when we do find out they don’t have money to do anything…is we does have to interact with the clients not them…wha we gun tell de people now” – AgentBy Gary EleazarIn a dramatic turn of events yesterday, CLICO (Guyana) terminated the services of the majority of its staff members at its Head Office on Camp Street as well as all of the staffers at its branches on Lamaha Street and Irving Street which house agents for the company.An agent clears out his stuff out of the now closed CLICO building on Lamaha StreetAll the agents at that branch were told that they would be relocated.Early in the day word circulated that staffers would be sent packing. That became a reality when the sacking started at the Head Office on Camp Street where the employees were called in one by one and given letters confirming that their services was no longer required.They were also informed that they will receive their salaries in two weeks’ time. A date for their benefits was yet to be determined.When this newspaper visited the Head Office yesterday during normal working hours most of the staff had already been sent home. A few were milling around, however, contemplating their future.The visibly upset staff were even questioning any promises made by the company given that they felt they were lied to in that some were assured of job security.Others said that they knew that their dismissal was imminent but were shocked that it was this soon.Over at the CLICO building on Lamaha Street early in the day the rumours of the oncoming onslaught permeated the atmosphere with staffers and agents already contemplating their future.There was talk of a meeting at which the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Geeta Singh-Knight, would preside and the time change periodically throughout the day, but in the final hours of the working day Singh-Knight arrived to present the dismal news.This newspaper understands that the staffers were told that the company was seeking to cut cost hence the move to terminate the services of the staffers there and relocate them.As Singh-Knight prepared to leave the Lamaha Street building yesterday the issue of whether she was even in authority to issue such directives was unclear and as such the agents as well as media operatives tried in vain to have the Chief Executive Officer utter even a syllable on any of the questions being posed to her.The issue surfaced given that the agents were unclear what her role was given that the Court had appointed the Commissioner of Insurance Maria van Beek as Judicial Manager of the company.Staff members mill outside the CLICO office yesterdayThe staffers over at that location were also issued with dismissal letters with the promise of payment within two weeks and all benefits will also be paid at a time to be determined later.As it relates to the agents,Asics Dynaflyte 2 Mens, head of Glen Agency, Lancelot Glen, told media operatives that he was of the opinion that the relocation was only a strategic move to sever ties with them also.He said that Singh-Knight told them that the company was relocating the agents given that it was too expensive to maintain that building but he posited that the accommodation proposed was in no way adequate to facilitate their jobs.Glen told media operatives that he was confused as it relates to the future of the company and was wondering whether to pay in the premiums that his clients have paid to him.His reasoning was that as agents they were paid on commission from premiums but ever since January they have not been paid. “They have been lying to us over and over….They probably taking this money (premiums paid) and filling some hole somewhere.”He added that the agents have always been assured that the company was solid, “and now when we do find out they don’t have money to do anything…is we who have to interact with the clients, not them…Wha we gun tell de people now?”Another agent said that they were not paid ever since the move to the Court by van Beek and were wondering what the status of their salaries was.“I got bills to pay,” related one agent.Another agent posited that it is highly unlikely that the agent attached to CLICO will remain thus they will have to sever ties with that company and align themselves hopefully with their clients elsewhere.The agent noted that this was the case given that the public has already lost confidence in CLICO and as such, marketing that product would be extremely difficult if not impossible.The move yesterday was even more surprising given that at the most recent press briefing hosted by Maria van Beek, the Judicial Manager had told media operatives, “We need them (staff members) speaking frankly.” |
