Employees at the Ministry of Agriculture stopped work on Thursday, citing unsafe buildings, health hazards and unresolved salary issues they say have gone unaddressed for years.
The Antigua Trades and Labour Union said staff across livestock, veterinary, meat inspection, crop protection and quarantine units have been working in deteriorating facilities marked by water damage, mold, contamination and shortages of basic equipment and supplies.
Industrial relations officer Kerry Dyer said internal safety reports were repeatedly submitted but no corrective work followed. Workers described years-long problems, including fungal growth at the meat processing plant, unreliable transport, and the absence of drinking water.
Quarantine officer Sherry McIntosh said her unit was moved to makeshift quarters that lack proper laboratory space, storage and safety features. She said staff have reported recurring illness and that several promised meetings with ministry officials were cancelled without explanation.
Employees also cited unpaid overtime dating back to 2019, stalled promotions and staffing levels that have fallen well below operational needs. Some officers said border-protection duties are now being carried out with half the required personnel.
Union officials said a long-scheduled consultation for 25 November was postponed again this week, prompting the coordinated work stoppage. Workers said they intend to remain off the job until they meet directly with the minister and permanent secretary.
As of Thursday, neither official had issued a statement or visited the affected sites. The union said inspections are planned for Friday before determining further action.
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Since 2018 up to now me can’t get me back pay. 7 years, 7 years. This Government really don’t give a dam. Anybody suppose to wait for the money they work for, for 7 years no explanation nothing? Excuse no money day.
When high member of government went on a radio and castigated the head of the Plant Quarantine Unit( who by the way is a respected highly qualified professional Antiguan, just her job according to law)…even threating her job saying next time she will be fired. Instead of fixing the workers work place conditions ( which by the way is the government responsibility) which as we all can see is deplorable only fit for pigs, went of a radio station chatting garbage. I will always judge politicians by both their actions and the words coming out of DEM mouth.
If agriculture is so important to national development, the ministry should lead by example. Invest in the staff and infrastructure.
Cancelling consultations repeatedly only makes things worse. Dialogue is needed not avoidance
It’s worrying that departments critical to national biosecurity are functioning without proper equipment or safe facilitie.
No one should have to choose between their job and their safety. These talks need urgency.
Meanwhile GB is on some flight going to God knows where, while Antigua is falling apart.
This man has not a damn clue how to govern the affairs of a country, not one damn clue..just talk talk talk.
I will keep educating y’all that this man has squandered the golden economic years of Antigua. Between 2013 – present.
Antigua should have been 15-25 years ahead of everyone, but instead we have some of the worse delapidated buildings in any city across the Caribbean, roads are terrible, water coming out the pipes is not even drinkable, workers are not paid, the judicial system is woefully lacking. And the list is endless.
Wake up people..this Administration has woefully mismanaged the peoples purse, and in many cases, downright stole it.
Agriculture will soon be controlled by the Chinese just like tourism is controlled by the Arabs, Europeans and North Americans. It will be modelled like the medical marijuana business where some Rastas are basically slaves on the plantation all over again.
The confiscated arable, prime agriculture lands will be given to the Chinese as payments for their trinkets, grants and unpaid loans.
The handwriting is on the wall.
BTW – what is happening with the program where Antigua was supposed to have acquired arable lands in South America to boost the local supply, of food?
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
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