DLP blasts gov’t for wasting money

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is alarmed that Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Adrian Forde, would be spending limited Government funds on the Sanitation Service Wildey Depot, a site which should have already been abandoned.

In a recent statement, Andre Worrell, DLP Spokesperson for Agriculture and the Environment, contended that the Mia Amor Mottley-led administration, to score cheap political points, has chosen to let go to waste a purpose built facility at Vaucluse which was constructed to bring the entire Sanitation Service Authority under one roof.

“This facility possesses more than adequate recreational facilities for workers with quality changing rooms, showers and lunchrooms. It also captures sufficient rain water for the power washing and cleaning of garbage trucks. However, this government refuses to move the workers into these state-of-the-art facilities and instead treats the workers as though they are not fit and proper to occupy modern work spaces,” said Worrell in the statement.

The DLP spokesperson acknowledged that the Barbados economy is being battered inside and out due to COVID-19, but also believes inappropriate management decisions added to the already dire situation.

“An economy which has declined by 17.5% in a single year cannot afford to repay a loan for a building it is not occupying, while at the same time pay rent for accommodations in other places while attempting to patch up a dilapidated building with paint and plywood sheets,” said the DLP representative.

He also called for Minister Forde to stop wasting the limited resources the island has and occupy the Vaucluse building, saying that there would be a recognition of savings and a boost in worker productivity.

“If the minister and the Cabinet possessed any vision they would recognise that the SSA currently occupies two commercially viable assets, they just need to vacate them,” he argued.