Frustrated with their working conditions and terms of employment, workers at the St Jude’s Home for Girls (St Jude’s) protested outside their newly refurbished Diego Martin compound. It has been less than a month since their transition from the dilapidated Belmont facility to what was formerly the St Michael’s School for Boys. However, the workers said it was a case of new location but old management practices which are not only affecting them but also their ability to deliver a high quality of care to the approximately 65 girls at the facility.
Joined by representatives of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU), the employees chanted a popular trade union song while displaying placards that read, “Shame!”, “Start negotiations now!” and “Think about the children.”
Amidst this was an angry BIGWU president who questioned where the financial investment into the new facility went. “The Prime Minister on his campaign trail said he spent 20 million dollars on this property here and where is that 20 million? Lining somebody’s pocket? What about the children? These children are wards of the state and the State has a responsibility to ensure these children are properly taken care of no matter their circumstances!” exclaimed Don Devenish.
Yesterday’s midday protest was forewarned by BIGWU at the beginning of this month, when in an exclusive interview with Guardian Media, Devenish said meaningful action will follow if the management of St Jude’s refuses to address several issues at the new location.
At the time Devenish said issues ranged from a lack of water, the absence of a formal emergency response unit, improper budgeting, a lack of both essential and basic supplies, under-staffing, and a lack of job security due to one-month employment contracts.
Yesterday Devenish added one more problem to the list.
“They have brought migrants into the institution, these young girls who range from 12 to 17 years, they don’t know English, how are they going to see about themselves?
“Because, the very system they have put in place with a translator, this manager has dismissed the translator. And for what reason? It’s because he feels he is bigger than everybody else so he can do what he wants. This is an injustice, and we demand the State, the Government, and the Prime Minister take an interest in St Jude’s!” Devenish demanded.
The union said these issues go beyond their personal benefit. Guardian Media was told that understaffing means less individual attention for each child there as well as forcing employees to perform tasks that they are not qualified to carry out.
Guardian Media sought a response from the manager of St Jude’s Deoraj Sookdeo however, calls to his mobile phone went unanswered. A member of the board told us that a statement will come from the Office of the Prime Minister, however none came up to late yesterday.
Attempts were also made to get a response on the matter from Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy who has the responsibility for child and gender affairs however, she too was unreachable.
