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National Security Minister Stuart Young yesterday accused Public Services Association Watson Duke president of causing 80,000 public servants unnecessary panic and anxiety following Tuesday’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
Young’s comments came after Duke, in addressing scores of public servants on Richmond Street, urged them not to go to work, as many of the buildings they occupy were not structurally sound, citing the Ministry of National Security on the same street as one example.
“Every time an earthquake rocks it begins to shake the bolts that keep the building together. As of now, we finish working for the day. You just leave. Every employee has a right to remove his or herself from any building that is likely to compromise their life or health,” Duke told the workers.
Duke said he wants to see which minister, CIO or director will challenge his order. He also advised the workers not to return to the buildings until they are certified for occupation.
“The PSA will make it our business that you are not coerced, threatened or forced in any way to enter a building that is not stamped by a registered certified engineer.”
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Duke, who represents 80,000 public servants, said of the 500 government buildings in T&T, “more than three-quarters of these buildings in this country have been compromised because we have poor building standards.”
But speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Young said his ministry was safe and Duke’s claim “is an instance of fear mongering. How does Mr Watson Duke know what screw is missing where?”
He said the Government has been examining its buildings.
“There are cracks that will appear… some will be surface level cracks. That is what the engineers are looking. For Mr Watson Duke to go and to try and cause some kind of unnecessary panic and unnecessary anxiety is wrong,” Young said, adding it would be irresponsible for the Government to ask any worker to enter an area that is unsafe.
Asked if action can be taken against anyone who spreads fake news or instils fear in society, Young said there was no specific legislation in place as yet to deal with this issue.
“There may be other pieces of legislation that exists, for example, that may cause people to panic etcetera …I am not 100 per cent certain. That would fall under the ambit of the T&T Police Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. At this stage, the Government is denouncing that type of behaviour.”
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED SO FAR
Eleanor Street, Endeavour Road, Ragoo Road in Chaguanas
• McBean Road, Longdenville Road, Caratal Road in Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo
• Simeon Road, Sparrow Drive, Smith Hill in Carenage, Diego Martin
• Mora Heights in Mayaro/Rio Claro
• Laltoo Trace, Mahadeo Trace, Old Clarke Road, Penal Rock Road
• One Woodbrook Place, East Dry River, Romeo Street and 4th Avenue in St. James
• Lengua Village, and Malgretoute Village in Princes Town
• Knox Street and Coffee Street in San Fernando
• Barbanda Village in Sangre Grande
• El Socorro, Laventille, Mt. Hope Road and Irwin Street in Petit Bourg, Bagatelle Road Ext. in San Juan
• Los Iros in Siparia
• St. Augustine, Piarco.
REGIONAL CORPORATION HOTLINE NUMBER
Diego Martin 800-DMRC (3672)
San Juan/Laventille 800-SLRC (7572)
Arima Borough Corporation 800-2ABC (2222)
Tunapuna/Piarco 800-TPRC (8272)
Port-of-Spain 800-PSCC (7722)
Sangre Grande 800-SGRC (7472)
Chaguanas Borough Corporation 800-DCBC (3222)
Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo 800-CTTC (2882)
Mayaro/Rio Claro 800-4MRC (4672)
Princes Town 800-PTRC (7872)
Point Fortin Borough Corporation 800-PFBC (7322)
San Fernando 800-SCDU (7238)
Penal/Debe 800-PDRC (7372)
Siparia Regional 800-4SRC (4772)
EMERGENCY 999
ODPM 511
NATIONAL OPERATIONS CENTRE 623 5202 (24/7)