President of the Public Service Association Watson Duke, is accusing Government of breaching Section 6 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act by not providing a safe work environment for the officers of the Immigration Division.
He is now threatening to shut down the Immigration Division’s operations at the Piarco International Airport in light of this breach.
Duke’s threat comes after 13 immigration officers tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and 84 more are in quarantine.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Duke said “Government has failed the officers by not providing proper personal protective equipment (PPE).”
He said between January 4 and February 24, the division was only provided with 250 surgical face masks.
Duke said “We are demanding all the PPE is provided for all employees, we will not be accepting that stock ran out.”
“They have failed in fulfilling their legal duty to these employees. The PSA will have a zero-tolerance on that for immigration, for customs at the airport, and at any moment we will shut it down, flat on its back, no warning, no further warning,” Duke said.
He accused National Security Minister of using ‘big words’ recently, to deflect from not providing the proper PPE for the officers.
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