PDM Slams Gov’t over Airport Shut Down

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 24, 2022 – The People’s Democratic Movement criticised the government for the recent shutdown at the Providenciales International Airport, maintaining that the strike was a repeat of “past actions that have not been addressed by the government of the day.”

There have been firefighter strikes under both the PDM (August 2019) and PNP (May 2021, June 2022) Administrations.

National Chairman of the PDM Ezra Taylor maintained that the strike was “indicative that their issues are not being addressed sufficiently. He expressed that if the issue was economic they should go to the House of Assembly and resolve it.

“While the government continues to brag about an economic boom in this country the citizens continue to feel economic pressure… compensation to our people is still marginal.”

Describing the firefighters as professionals Deputy Leader Robert Been said, “just like any other department, they deserve proper wages and proper working environments. It appears that the 15% salary increase wasn’t equal across the board. I am sure the firefighters communicated this before making their decision to strike. These kinds of situations can and could have been avoided by proper communication and mutual agreements by parties involved.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority has maintained there was no communication of the strike beforehand. Been said another group, the security officers, might soon be striking as well.  The TCIAA has confirmed this. Been lambasted the Deputy Premier.

“It makes me question the Deputy Premier when he makes statements about us living our best lives in Turks and Caicos.  I’m of the view that he’s just fascinated with the lyrics of the song because nothing has change to approve the lives of our people.” He further called on the government to, “Please take care of your people, please visit your department and find out issues, challenges, and concerns they may have to avoid repeats of today’s event.”