Prime Minister Gaston Browne has declared a State of Emergency at the General Post Office and has instructed members of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) to assume the duties of postal clerks, starting Thursday, Dec. 3.
Well-placed sources at the General Post Office tell REAL News that the Postmaster General and the supervisors will be training the military personnel to assume the duties of workers who have been taking industrial action on the instruction of their union.
The staff have been out since last week, after the Ministry of Works failed to correct the problems caused by a leaking roof, including the growth and build-up of mold in the building, creating a health hazard.
Reportedly, the postal workers were instructed by union officials to report to work, sign their names in the attendance record, and then return home until the Government provides a healthy and safe working environment.
However, Prime Minister Browne has now countered by bringing in the military as “strike breakers.”
As recently as yesterday, December 1, persons told REAL News they were unable to purchase stamps at the usual outlets and this was hampering their ability to conduct business. — SOURCE: REAL News
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Fix the darned building
This is a disgrace using the military as strike busters. The Government needs to address these workers concerns. Not that the military will even be able to do the job anyway
So as prime minister instead u relocate the people them and fix the building u call in people that has other duties to execute to replace the workers smh that’s why I will never vote again and we forming a group that will be neutral to both parties and we will get it bigger than any other group and the way how the prime minister making it look is like he showing off that he have the military in his pocket
So because one set of people not risking their lives, you willing to risk the lives of another set?
Mr pm repost the people them and let them do there duties and stop showing off
Unsanitary conditions for one is unsanitary for all, hurry and adress the issues i have business to conduct .
It’s about time he shows them who run things
Sidelines:
Stupidity is an earthly gift.What is he running?Since Gaston Browne became Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.Most of the people in Antigua and Barbuda have become destitute.They do not know.Where their next meals are coming from.They cannot even pay their basic bills.They cannot even get their Pensions monthly.Civil Servants are being paid late.So tell me,other than the running of his mouth.What the heck is he (Gaston Browne) running.
FROM THE SIDELINE that comment is pathetic because from day one Gaston Browne has always showed that he runs things. That is the trait that you always readily congratulate and glorify. It is pure arrogance and nothing else.
@Sideline. Very unsympathetic and I daresay IDIOTIC statement. Hitler would have loved people like you.
Things are falling apart in this State of ours. I need stamps. I went to the Woods post office early and bright this morning to buy stamps to file some urgent documents at the High Court. On entering the post office I saw a young man sitting there next to the mail boxes. The office was in darkness so I asked him why is the post office not open as yet. He replied that they are closed because when the General Post Office is closed they cannot operate. He then advised me that I could get stamps at the Methodist Book Shop on St. Mary’s Street. I hurried to the Methodist Book Shop and ran into the shop with the hazard lights on my vehicle flashing only to be told that they had no stamps. Even the lack of stamps is impeding the discharge of justice in this country. Lord please help us. What more can we endure. I need STAMPS.
As lawyer you should know that you can buy stamps at the High Court. And sad you equate postal workers strike as the country falling apart. It will take much more for that to happen. But then again it is your wishful thinking that this happens under this government. You do not wish the country well as long as this party and this leader is in power. The country can go to hell in a handbasket as far as you are concern. So much for being a patriot of this country.
FROM THE SIDELINE please! The post office outlet at the High Court has been closed for quite awhile. Please don’t talk about things you know nothing about.
And FROM THE SIDELINE as you well know there are numerous examples to show things are falling apart in this beloved country of ours.
Just name them
I thought that problem at the GPO was fixed. The Post Master and supervisors should not teach nobody to operate the PO, what is bad for one should be bad for all. Are the Military personnel Robots? Every dam building for Government is falling to the ground and the Authorities do not care a rat’s ass about the workers.
Public Works has renovated many government buildings that were left derelict for many years. To name a few the newly renovated Ministry of Health opposite the post office. The new renovated building from the Dept of Health on Church Street, the newly renovated PDO building on Kentish Road. Even newly renovated Old Treasury Building now housing the Land Registry. And many other buildings are presently under renovation by the Public Works Dept. It so happened to be that the just renovated Post Office wasn’t done properly by the contractor which now showed up because of the heavy rain. I guess it takes such a storm to bring out the flaws of a contractor’s work. The Postal Workers seem to want to have things done immediately without delay and in these Covid hard times this is an unreasonable demand. Whether or not they have the right to strike. Things should be within reason.
Fix that damn place and let the workers get back to their jobs. No more excuses.
Never under any previous govt has our island been in such a state of disrepair. All the current members in office are serving themselves under Gaston’s creative enrichment scheme. All they have done is accepted money under the table, allowed Yida to continue to destroy the mangroves by Guiana Island as well as give them full access to do as they like (going against everything that was put in place to protect the area) while us locals are forbidden to do the same, give away our lands to the Chinese, haven’t solved the kidnapping and execution style murder of Nigel Christian nor have they caught the criminals who shot and almost killed Nigel Christian’s co-worker. But they are quick to defend Michael Browne and possibly Dean Jonas. And we haven’t forgotten MP Elmo either.
He knows the military cannot strike.
Abuse of power.
Where will the ABDF find men to perform the postal duties, as is ABDF grossly under staffed.
Who will orient the ABDF of the system to operationalize the postal service?
Who will deliver the emails from the GPO?
Will replacing the workers fix the problem?
How long can this arrangement sustains?
What will happen to the GPO workers, stay home and get paid? Surely the ABDF staff must get a stipend for extra ordinary duties. Is this not an increase in payroll?
Relocate the affected portion of the GPO services to the ground floor of the state insurance building on Long Street, the administration staff on the top floor can resume duties since they are not affected.
Send them to ABS next and then Clarevue. If they are stepping in where there are poor working conditions that other humans shouldn’t have to work under.
Blessings
I feel I could tek a few days off n’all. Can any soldier man please reply with available dates so we can get the ball rolling. Tanx.
Comments are closed.