VG Admin building occupants call for better working conditions
“This is a problem that has been in existence for years, not today, and come on we get sick, we shut we mouth, we uncomfortable we shut we mouth but it’s too much now, something needs to be done or we will have to do what we have to do,” said a frustrated individual who works in the building.
The workers called on Virgin Islands News Online to make their grievances known to the rest of the territory because they said that writing the authorities responsible and speaking of their concerns at meetings have not yielded any results.
They complained of being without air conditioning in the building, and having to use cell phones as opposed to land lines. “This is happening here for as long as Jackhoo Rackhoo was a governor, I mean it’s not now, it’s going on forever and if you don’t run to the media these days nothing gets done. If that is how they want it, we will do it that way. We got lots more to bring out soon,” one person working in one of the government offices stated.
The workers said that more than anything else there is a growing concern about the health of persons working in the building as cases of asthma and other respiratory conditions are on the rise. “If you check it out, most times when someone from in here goes off sick it’s a respiratory problem and is them nasty old fans that we using and poor ventilation that is the cause,” this news site was told.
A comment from the government was not forth coming as they couldn’t be reached at the time of the complaint. Attempts to reach the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley to confirm if the reduction of working hours at the Labour Department in Virgin Gorda for maintenance work was part of government’s move to address the general situation there were also futile.
According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour dated October 30, 2013, there would be temporary reduced working hours of the VG Labour Department.
“The Labour Department is informing members of the Virgin Gorda community that the Labour Department’s Virgin Gorda branch office has temporarily reduced hours to open from 8:30 to 12 noon until further notice, effective Wednesday, October 30 due to maintenance concerns.
The Labour Department regrets any inconvenience caused. Persons can refer to the Tortola Office, which will operate, from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. as usual. Persons may call the department at 494-3701 ext. 4708 for more information,” the circular read.
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