The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Immigration offices in the new CA Smith Government Complex in Grand Bahama have been closed since Thursday due to a possible mould contamination problem, The Tribune understands. Staff were informed that the office would be closed for the two days for “sanitising” and reopened on Monday.

Deron Brookes, area vice president of the Bahamas Customs, Immigration Allied Workers Union, said that employees of Immigration and Customs have been experiencing symptoms of possible mould exposure since last year. He reported that there have been complaints of eye and skin irritations, sinus ailments, bronchitis, coughing, and sneezing. “We had some persons off sick for a while and could not figure out what was happening,” said Mr Brookes.

Callsto the department for confirmation have so far not been answered.

The union official said it is believed that employees at the Ministry of Education were also affected. “The offices on the ground floor at the MOE were also closed and staff was relocated from the southern wing to the northern wing of the building,” he recalled.

Mr Brookes said that the Department of Environmental Health reported finding no evidence of mould. “It is possible that the building may have to be shut down and tenants relocated, but I don’t think they are prepared to do and they do not want to acknowledge what is happening,” he said.

The immigration offices at the airport and harbour are open.