National Solid Waste Management employees demand better treatment

An employee of the National Solid Waste Management Authority is lamenting the treatment himself and others suffer at the hands of the entity.

“I can’t take anymore! The government of Antigua needs to do better. For almost 5 years I’ve worked at the National Solid Waste Management and I am tired of being treated less than. Maybe it’s because I clean gutters, cut grass and collect garbage.

“No one provides us with any sort of compensation. No one cares whether our equipment needs to be repaired or how gas reaches in my tank. Getting from Point A to Point B is none of my employers’ concern, instead this is my headache. To cover this expense I take it out of my meagre salary. The same salary which we have not seen for two weeks!

“We get no sick leave, yet our pay is still taxed. They also owe the truckmen over $2000. I have no idea how my bills or my rent are going to be paid. No money is coming in even though I have been working. This is so unfair, especially when considering how other government workers in offices have been seeing their pay cheques on a regular basis. This stigma must come to an end!

“The same Minister in charge of Mount St. John’s ‘Hospital’ is responsible for my sector. Makes sense as to why they are being so slow to give me my money. Sadly, it does not seem as though I am going to be paid any time soon. I fear for my family’s survival during this pandemic and I’m 100% certain that my fellow workers would say the same.

“If something is not done we will rally together to make you acknowledge us. Maybe then you all will start to see the importance of the role we play in providing the citizens of Antigua with a clean and healthy environment. This government needs to do better!,” he said.