STATIA – Effective March 31st 2020 the Public Entity of St. Eustatius has introduced a number of measures in connection with the Global Pandemic COVID-19.
In order to continue providing service to the community the Public Entity has introduced internal measures to safeguard it’s workers, by allowing the vital functions to continue providing service to the community. Measures were taken in connection with the decisions to close schools and the closure of day care and afterschool services. This left employees with children between 0-12 years, especially employees in vital functions, that cannot work from home without proper care for their children. In practice this means a number of vital positions are working from home while others are working in morning and afternoon shifts.
To adhere to social distancing offices are now manned by fewer persons. Computers have been relocated to the home where civil servants continue to carry out their daily tasks and assigments. With schools closed civil servants are given the option to select a safe and trustworthy babysitter for which the costs will be reimburded. Employees in vital functions can hire child care service for their children. Employees will arrange this on their own with a friend or family member, someone they see fit to care for their child during their absense. The employee declares the hours and the hours are paid to the employee. The employee can in turn pay for the service rendered. Fee for the service rendered is maximum $10.00 per hour.
The essential functions within the organization are; Island Secretary, Communication Advisor, Information and Protocol, Technical Employee, Information and Protocol, Social Media Specialist/ all-round Communication Advisor, Director of Social Domain, Social Worker, Assistant Social Workers, GGD-Arts, Nurses, Manager of Social Support, Front Office Employees, IT Employees, Inspectors (Health and Economy), Veteniarian, Butchers, Cleaners.
Meetings of civil servants take place at a distance, through online communication tools, like Zoom or Skype. Opening hours of public offices have been adjusted. The public is encouraged to contact agencies by phone or email and pay outstanding bills by digital transfer, rather than paying cash.
This allows the government to keep delivering vital services, while conforming to measures of the Emergency Ordinance, including social distancing and avoiding groups of more than 15 persons.
