Senior citizens seeking their old-age pension grants met closed doors at the Social Development Ministry’s San Fernando office yesterday as staff protested over poor working conditions. With the sun beating down on them, some unable to stand for long periods, pleaded with security guards inside for help. But signs posted outside said: “Closed until further notice, OSH 16.” Another sign informed members of the public to visit the ministry’s Penal office for service.
Yesterday staff at the office heeded the call of Public Service Association president Watson Duke to shut down the office if they were uncomfortable with their working conditions. On Friday, he visited the office where he met with staff and promised zero tolerance from the PSA on public offices that were compromising the health and well-being of staff. Minister in the Ministry of Social Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, in a telephone interview, said she was aware of the shutdown and the San Fernando office would be moved to the ground floor of the Omardeen’s building on Cipero Street.
“We had this in train before. We have construction beginning today on the dry walls inside the building and from tomorrow we will be sending down our IT (information technology) people to start the networking. We should be finished in 15 days,” she added. She said the furniture already had been ordered and was ready to be delivered and should take two to three days to put in place. In the meantime, she said, alternative arrangements would be made to serve citizens.
“We will announce the arrangements once they are formalised. The office remains closed until further notice but we will tell people where they can access us for service. We have a hotline that we also have running. The situation is being addressed.” Work at the Public Transportation Services Corporation (PTSC) appeared normal yesterday and there were no disruptions to the service.
Clients complain
Pensioner Harry Ramlogan, 72, of Rambert Village, San Fernando, said the staff could have given the public notice that they would not be working yesterday. “I come this morning with my life certificate and they tell us we have to report to the Penal office. I just have to renew it. I did not know they shutting down the office. I waiting here a while now.” He said when he arrived the doors were shut and the security guard told him he would have to go to Penal. He said he pleaded with the guard who took his certificate and his ID card and told him to wait and he would see what he could do as some staff were still in the building.
“I not fully comfortable with what they doing. It is not young people standing out here. It is old people who coming for their grant,” he added. Another man, who only gave his name as R Ramkissoon, of St John’s Village, San Fernando, said he brought his 84-year-old mother to the office for her pension and was upset to meet the office closed. “Why she have to endure this kind of hardship? It have nowhere to sit. If she need to use the washroom now? “I do not know where this office is in Penal. Penal Rock Road is a long road,” Ramkissoon said. Bernard Hubbard, 69, of La Romaine, shared the same frustration and was concerned the shutdown would affect his pension. Gangadaye Seepersad, 63, of San Fernando, said all she came to do yesterday was collect a form to take to the doctor to get welfare. She said she was unable to go to Penal and had no idea what she would do at that point.