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Shameful! Civil servants @ HC Registry using face masks on the job!

-Civil Servants & the Public who use the Old Administration Building which houses the old Post Office and High Court Registry now subject to unsafe working environment, with building being mold infested & dilapidated
Some workers who occupy the office spaces in the Old Administration Building in Road Town have resorted to using face masks. Photo: Internet Source
Collapsing ceiling directly above where staff works and the public comes to do business. Photo: Team of Reporters
Collapsing ceiling directly above where staff works and the public comes to do business. Photo: Team of Reporters
Another bad area of the ceiling in the Old Administration Building on Main Street. Photo: Team of Reporters
Another bad area of the ceiling in the Old Administration Building on Main Street. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands has never been to this point in its history and many blame it on the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith.

It is now reported and seen by several eyewitness that because of the poor working and dilapidated conditions of the High Court Registry offices located in the Old Administration Building on Main Street in Road Town, Tortola where both the public and civil servants use, the area is now unsafe. 

Many workers have been observed wearing face masks to protect themselves from the dust, mold and other unhealthy particles.

Photos taken by our Team of Reporters showed dilapidated ceilings, collapsing roofs and what appears to be electrical wires that should be hidden.

Unsafe for Staff & Public

While staff members were afraid to speak to our newsroom because of fear of victimisation, they were visibly disturbed by the conditions that are unsafe and deplorable.

Three staff members were observed wearing the masks over their mouth and nose. The Registry of the High Court comes under the Deputy Governor’s Office, with the Governor's Office having some responsibility.

A call to the Registrar of High Court, Mrs Erica Smith-Penn, on the matter was not returned.

Our newsroom spoke to a senior civil servant on the matter who said “I was told that they should be moving shortly but only God knows when as it comes back to the same thing, no money”.

A lawyer who uses the facility regularly told our news room “only in the BVI they could get away with having public officers working in that unsafe and unhealthy situation …in some other jurisdictions Health and Safety inspectors would have already shut down the building and ask workers to stay home….but this is Tortola..”

Acting Deputy Governor Mrs Rosalie Adams could not be reached for comments as of time of publication.

27 Responses to “Shameful! Civil servants @ HC Registry using face masks on the job!”

  • pat (09/12/2016, 17:26) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sweage on one site now this tears for my bvi
    • ann (10/12/2016, 08:29) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Government broke
      • brent (10/12/2016, 21:43) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
        A face mask is NOT going to stop them from breathing in dangerous mold, dust, and the ceiling falling on them. This building is a disgrace and should NOT have people working there. I say let the people in charge work in this building and see how fast they would fix it. My health is more important than my job and I would NOT show up for work! Damn shame. There are vacant buildings newly built in town which can house these departments. I say relocate them NOW before something major happens and they get sued! Government don't even take care of their own people, but let outsiders come who wouldn't think to work in this building and see how fast they put them in a nice environment. SMFH!
      • nanny (12/12/2016, 15:19) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
        Government can't be broke...Our Premier said it wasn't (sarcasm).
  • We are not hand to mouth (09/12/2016, 17:31) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
    We made millions and out for more. The airport project must go on...The steelman chinese and the gov't baldhead in chef hat, and all the others in between- needs more...forget these people and their conditions. They are not a priority, so they don't count. We are VI Newly Arrived Rich Cats and in a class of our own. They are but Collateral Damage on the road to our millions.
  • Observer (09/12/2016, 17:36) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    Politrickians as soon as they get into office they start building new buildings for themselves, friends ,and families ,and no care for the people who is trying to work real hard to feed their families.The Minister of Health is a developer and should tell his other ministers that sh$$$t should stop..So much of my friends are sick from those government buildings and the Ministers renovate their offices and made sure they are free from mold ..The day will come when the "Vote" will count in the BVI to much B S happening ..
    • walk (09/12/2016, 18:39) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
      We vote them in then dot back and accept whatever they dish out so what do we expect. MARCH if necessary or go up by the high school and sit on that million dollar wall from 8:30 - 4:30. Embarrassing!!!!
  • YY (09/12/2016, 17:36) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Third world 1
  • wize up (09/12/2016, 17:48) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who cares!!!! Money being spent to attract the visitor while we who live here being made to undergo unusual treatment......i know charity begins at home(we are only loved and embraced just before an election)
  • AJ (09/12/2016, 18:09) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I could understand if u are using that mask for dust particle protection but if it's to protect u against mold u need a respirator and that dust mask is just making it worst
  • W*F (09/12/2016, 18:37) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply

    I was in to check a case yesterday and i saw this with my own 2 eyes...Pappy this is sicken ..appalling SMH

    • wize up (10/12/2016, 03:36) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      @ WTF: thank you for this update; here we have our people working in filthy conditions and the visitor coming here in 10 million dollar aéroplanes(no one cares about us until until just before an election)..my question(who cares) because the current opposition leader only telling us what is wrong but never how he plan on making things better for the people of this territory(it is shameful when the member have to continue speaking negative about dr smith simply to make yourself look good)...both of them fast asleep because as former chairman fraser lead his political party to an a&& whooping at the 2015 elections but he is not telling us how he kill off a 45 year old political party but knows all that is wrong with the current administration(he sleeping 2...old folks used to say the more you look the less you see; home boy busy looking negative things to talk about others, thats why is now the former chairman of the VIP and he will soon be the former leader of the opposition(fast asleep Zzzzzzz !!!!)
  • Saw Da (09/12/2016, 18:55) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    The F$$$$$g Government needs locking up all of them in House of Assembly,Governor and all and all 13 of them ,they don't care for human beings..This is sad in the BVI..
  • Virgin Islander (09/12/2016, 19:47) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    My fellow Virgin Islanders are a bunch of cowards. They refuse to stand up for their rights. All they bawling is victimization so they refuse to speak up. When that environment makes you sick and you die would you still worry about victimization. If I was employed in that department I was not going to working those conditions. Civil Servants need to stop being cowards and stand up for their rights. I hope the Deputy Governor will deal with this situation urgently.
    • wize up (10/12/2016, 07:40) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ virgin islander: nice group of words, so where can we meet to you to begin this protest(forgot you dont work in that department).....nice speach; but mouth talk dont do hand work(talk is cheap money buy land) at the end of the day most of those folks have bank payments so i cant see them jeopardizing their job and like you rightfully noted victimization !!!
  • ndp (09/12/2016, 20:36) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    You know the one thing that would save the NDP government for next election is for ALL of them to take a pay cut for a whole year. This will put money in Government account and help fix issues like the present one above
    • NDP.i100% agree.. (10/12/2016, 08:53) Like (40) Dislike (0) Reply
      Take a 50 % Salary Cut for a year and put the Next 50 % to pay all vendors. Our suffering people, their people. The voters.. Their owed money... Don't forget once VIP or the next party promise to Repeal and replace NHI...NDP won't stand a chance...
  • pat (10/12/2016, 00:02) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    what is also a shame is that not only are employees health in jeopardy, but the old building itself is a historical site
    and important to protect. This is demolition by neglect. Don't do anything and let it fall down so the government can put in a sky scraper and change the whole waterfront and character of Main St. Save that building by fixing it!!
  • kick backs (10/12/2016, 05:40) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get funny man yo fix it he is not hand to mouth like the rest of us
  • Eggy (10/12/2016, 07:18) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I'm running in the third district,please give me your votes I have a good chance of doing better than the present government & I surely can beat the former leader of the VIP.Lets face it we have no one else to turn to,VIP & NDP both full of f*^% !!!! So next election look for the EGG on your ballot & give me that X !!!!VOTE EGGY !!!!
    • @Eggy (12/12/2016, 13:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      At the core of this comment is a deeply disparaging attack on Eggy. I hope you even know that he is a fellow HUMAN BEING like the rest of us.
  • ta ta (10/12/2016, 08:32) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cant believe this
  • 7 million bad investment (10/12/2016, 08:46) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    That 7 millions that Airline got could have built us a nice 4 Storage building on that land Next to Quomar and eliminate all of this. This would have given the Economy wings.. Jobs. Materials. Services and equipments purchase locally..local businesses would be smiling and happy all now.. How none of those educated people though of that.. Stop blaming Amazon and blame our government. What have they donw?
    • oh yes (11/12/2016, 06:22) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Had they done that you wouldbe whining and complaining about something else. You would bellyache that they could. Have stayed right there for free and invest in an airline. . They are damned if they do and damned if they don't so going ahead however they want is what they should do and I admire NDP for that...
  • one eye (10/12/2016, 18:45) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    What is new here? But you fools will still return the NDP
  • civil servant (14/12/2016, 22:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When will we be able to say 'thank you to dinosaurs, please lay a egg and go' the times have simply outgrown some of these guys ability to keep up eg Mrs. Adams the DG and sleeping Dr. Smith
  • E. Leonard (15/12/2016, 00:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Government has the responsible for providing a safe and healthful working environment for its employees. It is also responsible for ensuring that other employers are providing a safe and healthful working environment for their employees. It must set the personal example. The pictures and images show that the working environment may be both unhealthy and unsafe. The building appears to be in a deteriorated condition. It seems that there is under investment in critical maintenance and repair, undermining the structural integrity of the facility.

    There is a minimum cost of ownership in owning a building. If you own it you have to maintain it. Facility experts suggests on average investing 2-4% of building replacement value on maintenance and repair annually to get the reliability, functionality and design life cycle. This building is a taxpayer asset/investment and it must be preserved and protected.

    Moreover, the old Adminstrative Building is more than 50 plus years and should be on a historical register. As such, it should be preserved as close to its original construction state as practical. The employee wearing the mask tells a serious tale and concern, screaming for attention and a solution.


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