Some private sector employees forced to work during Dorian – Hon Fraser
Speaking at the continuation of the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands today, September 2, 2019, Hon Fraser said even after issuance was given of a curfew, private employees were still being asked by their employees to report to duty.
NOEC was Notified - Hon Fraser
“Long after the Government had announced that the Civil Servants were not to report to work, except for essential workers and even after there was the talk of a curfew to be issued, in the private sector, employees were being asked to come to work and threatened,” Hon Fraser told the House.
He said the information was conveyed to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NOEC) which then made contact with some of the employers and their response from said employers wasn’t favourable. The NOEC was activated to monitor conditions of the storm and keep the public updated throughout the passage of Hurricane Dorian.
“It's incumbent upon us as legislatures to ensure, even before we saw what took place with Irma, to ensure that we don’t put our citizens at risk," Hon Fraser said.
He further pointed out that long before the passage of the hurricane, the territory knew of the consequences and the dangers that could come and hence, the actions of private employees were irresponsible.
The Third District Legislator called for the legislation on curfew and impending disasters to be clear and concise regarding such matters.
He said the current Minister, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), should have intervened into the situation, “I don’t know… but I am not taking this lightly, and I don’t expect any of the thirteen of us to do that either,” Hon Fraser said.
Premier surprised
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in expressing shock at the announcement said it was the first time he was hearing about the issue as it was being raised in the House. The Premier promised to check with the NEOC on what exactly transpired.
"You are correct, you can't replace a life and when the state announced that everyone is to be off the road, everyone is to be off the road whether its private or whether its public," Hon Fahie said.
"It shivers me when I hear you say... to know that they were employers who would be so, not only callous but distasteful... to have their employees out even though the territory has announced a curfew."
Premier Fahie reassured his commitment to hunting down the companies involved and said his administration will make a statement that is clear and precise regarding the future enforcement of curfews.
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