THE MP for Vieux Fort North, Moses ‘Musa’ Jn Baptiste, has called for a halt to work currently being carried out at the George Odlum National Stadium in Vieux Fort, where St Jude Hospital is currently located.
He said that the project represents a clear occupational health and safety hazard.
In a statement released to St Lucia Times, Jn Baptiste urged that safer and more professional means be used to bring temporary relief to patients, medical staff and the public.
Jn Baptiste is the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) spokesperson for health.
He disclosed that the party has received many reports of health related incidents connected to the breakage of fiberglass material by contractors, who are currently working on the roof of the Stadium.
“Those reports have increased over the last two days with a medical doctor publicly confirming her own experience with exposure to the fiberglass particles emanating from the current work on the roof of the National Stadium. In addition, nurses and other staff of the hospital are also reporting negative reactions since the commencement of the work on the roof of the hospital,” the Vieux Fort North MP stated.
He said that the SLP is ‘alarmed’ that the United Workers Party (UWP) government allows the contractor to continue work on the roof, even after many daily reports are surfacing of the negative effects on the health of patients, visitors and staff.
“The Saint Lucia Labour Party is calling on the administration of the hospital and representatives of the workers to ensure that the work is stopped until adequate safeguards are taken to protect the well-being of the workers and patients,” he declared.
According to the SLP spokesperson on health, the government continues to show a callous disregard for the health and safety of the people, while they try to achieve their ‘self-serving political agenda.’
For many years the call went out for the repair of parts of this Stadium out of
reports that objects were falling off, notably from the area of the roof and it was
feared that someone could be hurt. Nonetheless, work is being carried out right
now. Shall we let the proceedings continue, hopefully to achieve an acceptabe
outcome and stop this silly and childish crybaby politics. At the completion, we’ll see.