Sanitation workers employed with the San Fernando City Corporation are planning to “stink up the city” if money is not found to employ casual workers this fortnight.
Ainsley Matthews, president general of the Contractors and General Workers Trade Union (CGWTU), which represents the workers, said they have been told by the CEO, Indarjit Singh, that the Government had not released money to hire some 200 casual workers for the fortnight starting on Thursday.
Matthews said as a result of that, the cadre of permanent workers downed tools yesterday to protest the decision.
Their action left a pile-up of garbage at Skinner Park as protesting workers refused to clean it. Matthews promised if no money was released soon, the streets of San Fernando would also be left in a terrible condition.
Matthews explained that since the boundaries of the city were extended several years ago, a cadre of some 200 workers was employed fortnightly to augment the permanent staff because vacancies have not been filled.
He said the skilled and unskilled sanitation workers assisted in sweeping the streets, cutting the grass on the side of the roads, cleaning underground drains, as well as performing masonry duties.
“We need the casual workers to keep the city clean,” he said, pointing out the numerous primary and secondary schools in the city and the risk they face should workers take further protest action.
San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein said it was true they did not have the money at the moment to hire the casual workers this fortnight.
“But as we speak, we are making every attempt to ensure that (stink up the city) does not happen. Right now, the CEO is speaking with the permanent secretary to ensure that we get the money.”
He said he was not aware that Skinner Park was not cleaned after it was used over the weekend. Hosein said a refundable caution fee was charged when the facility was rented out. He said if the user did not clean the premises the fee would be forfeited and the workers from the corporation would undertake the task.