Untenable physical workspaces, unmaintained facilities, and unsafe working conditions were some of the revelations raised by the Public Services Association on Tuesday during a site visit at the Port of Spain City Corporation.
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen was at the forefront of the visit to see first-hand.
Minister Ameen said she will meet with PSA President Felicia Thomas, representatives of the Port of Spain City Corporation, and municipal officers from several Regional Corporations to discuss the issues.
“Health and safety and the conditions of work in Regional Corporations and at the Ministry of Local Government, it is very alarming. I am at a Ministry where, within the Ministry’s head office, you have such cramped accommodations, you have ageing infrastructure, air condition units breaking down, you have people sharing desks, literally sharing a chair – and this is really not conducive to productivity.”
The Minister noted that suitable working conditions are necessary for productivity at Regional Corporations, and said that municipal officers also lack protective equipment needed for carrying out their duties. She also stated that there are outstanding unpaid allowances owed to officers by Regional Corporations due to reported inadequate funding.
“Local Government reform cannot mean that you are depriving them of their basic allowances; you are depriving them of their allocations in the budget, and then chastising them when they don’t do their work. So, we are here to work with the union, to hear first-hand from the officers.”
Minister Ameen reiterated her commitment to working towards resolving these matters.