PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – On Wednesday, November 20th, the Windward Island Civil Servants Union/PSU held a press conference. The purpose of the media briefing was to bring the media up to speed regarding the occupational health and safety hazards of employees not only at the building housing the Fire Department, but the Ambulance Service Department as well.
During the press conference, which was also attended by several fire fighters, the union represented by its president Sophia Peterson as well as the General Secretary Riegnald “Bakari” Arrindell, told members of the media that as a result of the growing health and safety issue at the establishment, they held discussions with the management team of the Fire Department on Monday, November 18th.
During this meeting, according to the General Secretary of the union, it was brought to their attention that management is aware of the situation and that they have passed on the requisite information to the relevant to authorities. Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Arrindell noted that one point that kept coming up several times was that government has no money, and that they have reached out to the World Bank to see if further assistance can be secured.
“This matter affects the workers at the Fire Department and the Ambulance Department. Because the working conditions at the Ambulance Department are also deplorable. It is inconceivable. It is unjustifiable that our workers have to be in those conditions on a daily basis” the Secretary of WICSU/PSU Barkari Arrindell said, adding that these are workers that are charged with responding to emergencies. These are workers charged with responding to disasters and here they are in a building that basically jeopardizes their health and well being.
