Over 100 Employees within the Operations Department of the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority will this afternoon be tested for Covid-19. Amongst the employees are Tally Clerks, Longshoremen, Operator, Mechanic, Supervisors and Admin on the dockside of the Port.
This would be the first Statutory Department of Government to undergo testing on such a large scale since the announcement by Cabinet a few days ago on the issue.
This came about on the insistence of both Bargaining Agents for Port Workers, The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union and the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union after several meeting held between Health Officials, Unions and Port Executives via Zoom.
Over the past weeks, several employees tested positive for Covid-19 at the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and the entire Executive Management of the Port have been asked to isolated because of being in close contact with a Covid Positive employee.
The Port and the Unions are to continue Dialogue in the coming days as to the way forward for employees at the Port as the Covid Pandemic continues to affect business across Antigua and Barbuda.
The Unions have also inquired of Management, as to why the Sea Port was not placed on the priority list for testing and vaccination as was the other essential departments of government.
The Unions reminded Management and Health Officials that the Port is the engine room which drives Economic activity and an outbreak on the port could be devastating to the National Economy.
Yesterday during the Governments Press Conference Minister Melford Nicholas informed the Nation that the Curfew continues and the government is expecting 40,000 doses of vaccine on the island shortly.
