BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, Feb. 13.2018 – FOLLOWING harsh criticisms leveled against Minister of Labour, Hon. Vance Amory and his Permanent Secretary, Ron Collins for staff being forced to work in an environment where mold is present, the former has hit back at the Opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP).
The SKNLP has over the last several weeks criticized the Government, specifically the two individuals with responsibility for Labour, for unhealthy working conditions at the Labour Department – where staff is alleged to have high levels of mold present in their blood.
Chief among the critics is SKNLP’s caretaker for Constituency #8, Dr. Terrance Drew, who alleged that many of the staff at the Church Street location have tested positive for mold.
Drew accused the duo of “committing serious atrocities with the health of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis”; that claim comes as the location was recently renovated.
In a recent public statement, the popular medical practitioner criticized the Minister for accusing Labour Department staff of maliciously going on sick leave and also lying to embarrass the government.
“Hon. Vance Amory is not qualified to make statements like these. He is trying to pull the names of the doctors through the mud when he has no background information to comment on. The building that houses the Department of Labour was deemed to have high levels of carbon dioxide and suspected mold,” Drew said.
Amory while speaking with SKNVibes, hit back at the Labour Party, explaining that people are not prepared to abide by the findings of the technicians and experts, so there will be situations that appear to be negative.
He stated that the offices of the Department of Labour were recently renovated and all of the persons involved in the making of the strippings ensured that there was no evidence of any harmful conditions.
“We asked the Bureau of Standards to make some checks and they gave us a report that they found no evidence that any mold was present.
“We got engineers to come in and look at the air condition system, and they have completed the adjustment work and we are satisfied that things are done properly; but we still have persons who are complaining.”
Against that backdrop, Amory disclosed that “The Ministry, with the concurrence of Cabinet, is agreeing that we look for new accommodations,and that the office will still be used by some departments.”
Amory contends that the arguments being put forward are “purely political”
