#Providenciales, May 10, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The records
show that the PDM got a new post office built in under two years despite back
to back, Category 5 hurricanes and the PNP didn’t get the job done despite
having three years with bigger fiscal surpluses.
News coverage
of the chain of events which led to the new post office having to be
constructed is extensive as media houses throughout the TCI have been on the
story since it broke, when workers first complained and refused to function at
the dilapidated site.
Since that
time, news articles and broadcast reports highlight that the building ended up
being condemned due to termite and rodent infestation, structural problems and
the presence of mold, among other things.
The staff was moved and stuffed, with
all of the country’s mail into a space at the Town Centre Mall.
In February 2014, the former Home
Affairs Minister, George Lightbourne told media there were plans to include the
construction of a new post office in the 2014/2015 Budget.
But construction did not happen.
In December 2015, the Permanent
Secretary of Public Works in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ian Astwood
explained that the building should have come in 2015, but due to other projects
which took precedence the new post office was put on hold.
A promise was made for construction of the
new post office site for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
But that also did not happen.On
Wednesday, the Leader of the PNP illustrates in a media statement that the
2016-2017 Budget of the Rufus Ewing Administration made $1.15 million available
for the post office construction.
However, the PNP Government led by
Rufus Ewing up to December 2016 or eight months into the fiscal year made no
visible moves to construct the post office which they had on the books.
The general elections of December 2016
resulted in the Ewing Administration being voted out of office.
It meant, among other things, the PNP
Government had lost the opportunity to lead on the plan to build a new post
office for Providenciales.
The issue of a workplace environment
which proved uncomfortable and unconducive for high productivity and efficiency
had been a long-time complaint for the Post Office staff. The matter
was so severe, that Deputy Governor Anya Williams and former Deputy Premier
Akiera Missick held at least one meeting with the demoralized workers to
reassure them of their importance and improvements.
Five years since the industrial action
taken by the post office staff and the PNP Opposition criticizes the PDM
Government for taking the credit for their plans for the post office construction.
Evidence is there to show, that while
the plan to build was in black and white, there appeared to be a lack of
conviction to actually get the job done when Washington Misick was the Minister
of Finance.
The new George Brown Post Office ends
at least six years of woeful working conditions and while the funds were set
aside, the PNP Government was stalled on the project for three years.
Comparatively, the PDM administration also with the funds set aside, got the new post office built within 18 months of being elected to office.
#magneticmedianews
#thegeorgebrownpostoffice