The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

UNION executives are claiming that lack of proper maintenance and poor construction at several government complexes are putting the health and safety of civil servants and the public at risk in Grand Bahama.

Rudy Stubbs and Deron Brookes of the Bahamas Customs Immigration Allied Workers Union again raised concerns about water leaks and mould exposure at the new CA Smith Government Building and the NIB Complex in Freeport.

They claim that there are also health-related issues at the Harold DeGregory Government Complex, the Supreme Court and Post Office buildings.

Although the CA Smith Building has been professionally sanitised for mould, Mr Brookes, area vice president of BCIAWU, said the leak problem has not been addressed.

“Not more than two days ago during a heavy downpour, the CA Smith Building had to be evacuated when a sensor was tripped because of water (leaking) in the building, and this usually happens after it rains,” he said.

“We want our workers to work in a safe and healthy environment. You cannot have productivity if persons are out sick.”

Mr Brookes also said that some workers are still out sick and have been instructed by their doctors not to return to work.

“Our colleagues are falling ill and some have passed on, and the general public comes into these buildings and… they are not aware of the dangers that exist,” added Mr Stubbs.

“There is no proper maintenance of these buildings and that is why we have these health related issues that is going on in our country.”

Mr Stubbs reported the Public Treasury Department, which is located in the NIB Building, is open half day because of a mould issue.

“It is our contention that the wheels of government tend to turn unusually slow when it comes to addressing such issues. We were told that a policy was put in place for the proper monthly maintenance of the CA Smith Complex, and that a Health and Safety Committee would be formed,” he said.

The Tribune spoke with Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville about the mould problem at the government complexes.

He said that treatments for mould were carried out at the CA Smith and the Harold DeGregory Complexes, and are now underway at the NIB Complex.

“A week ago we had a meeting with government employees at the CA Smith and the NIB Buildings concerning mould. We expressed to employees exactly the situation, the findings, and outcome of the treatments that took place,” he said.

Minister Darville said that most public buildings in The Bahamas have a degree of mould.

“There is no question that every government building we need to work harder to maintain it more effectively, but as far as the CA Smith Building is concerned, the public analyst who came down indicated the findings and said that the Department of Environmental Health rendered it completely safe to be in,” he said.

He further stated that the various department heads were given correspondence from the Ministry of Grand Bahama, in conjunction with the Public Hospitals Authority, about arrangements of times when workers would be able to seek medical attention.

“Everything is moving in the right direction… and the NIB Complex is now being addressed,” Dr Darville said.

When asked about the formation of a Health and Safety Committee, The Tribune was told that one has already been formed at the Harold DeGregory Complex, and a committee is in process of being implemented at the CA Smith Building.

Harcourt Brown, undersecretary at the Ministry for Grand Bahama, said the law states that where there are more than 20 persons employed, a Health and Safety Committee should be established.