Dear Editor,
Indications in the press are that the Labour Department in the Ministry of Social Protection is clamping down on employers throughout the country who do not adhere to the labour laws and as such will be increasing its workplace inspections nation-wide.
Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott told the media that work place inspections are of vital importance to the well-being and output of employees as well as their employers.
Well I would like to propose to Minister Scott that the first entity his team should visit are the locations belonging to the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown.
Starting at the Municipal Stores located at the Constabulary Training Complex in Water Street (Old House Service Department) they will find the staff working there, forced to labour in a bond that is poorly lit, extremely dusty and dirty, with no windows or other form of ventilation for long hours, but worse than that, they are forced to endure a leaking toilet located on the floor above.
Just up the road, on the same Water Street, this time at the Municipal Abattoir, there is an urgent need for repairs to be effected to the floor whilst the hot water chambers are a major disaster waiting to happen, should one of the ancient boilers blow out. But more alarming is the manner in which animals are slaughtered there.
It is most archaic and cruel. Instead of using a captive bolt pistol or stun gun in the process of slaughtering, which is more civilized, they just bludgeon the animal to death.
Over at the Solid Waste Department the building has deteriorated to the point where all the wooden walls have rotted and more resemble parchment paper rather than wood.
And even at City Hall, workers are subjected to occupy this old building that has very aged wiring that should be condemned, whilst the upper floors such as the Concert Hall, it has been converted into a sanctuary for birds, pigeons, rodents and other wildlife both dead and alive.
It is clear that the administrators at City Hall are unconcerned about the health and safety requirements and needs at their various locations or of their employees.
In fact it is strange that such a large employer does not even have a Health & Safety Officer on its staff.
Sincerely,
Sean Moniz
