~demanding respect and proper workspace for Territorial police.~
MARIGOT:--- Workers of the Collectivity of Saint Martin chained the doors of the Collectivity’s building as they gather in a protest action that is supported UNIT 978 and its leader Albert Blake. In a statement, Blake said the COM workers have had enough since they are all being disrespected by the President of the COM.
Blake said the issue has been ongoing for the past 3 weeks after they realized that the Police Territorial Building have been invaded and taken over by the Director-General Services (DSG). Blake said that while the Police Territorial has been waiting for a comfortable workspace the DGS services moved into the newly renovated building which they equipped leaving the Police Territorial in an uncomfortable workspace at another location. “The police territorial was left to work in deplorable conditions, an area that is smelly. We are behind the bus station and the area is filthy and smells awful on a daily basis.” Blake said the new set of DGS workers who recently came to work on St. Martin segregated themselves, they do not mingle with the COM workers, besides that, they are not respectful since he said they are smoking in and out of the offices and are placing their feet on top of the desks as if they are at home.”
Blake further explained that when they took their grievances to the President of the COM who would constantly make excuses for the DGS agents while promising to address the matter but in fact, the President does not. The union representative said that just recently they saw one of the agents entering the President’s office with a lit cigarette in his hands. He said if the President of the COM is tolerating this behavior how could the workers demand respect from the DGS agents. He credited the COM workers for the actions they took on Monday. He said on Friday the Police invaded their former workspace that was invaded by the DGS agents. He said a meeting was held on Friday and the President suggested that the Police Territorial move to an area next door to Credit Mutuel which they declined. Blake said that the new location is far worst than the one they are currently occupying. “There is pigeon poop and sewage pollution there, at least 3 other services refused to utilize that location and the police territorial will not give up its building that was built in 1989 by Mayor Albert Fleming. The police need to be in close proximity of the COM.”
Blake said the President has been undermining the police territorial because he went to another unit that does not represent the police. He made clear that the Police will not leave the building that was built for the police.
Blake further explained that on Wednesday last week the DGS removed all the furniture from the building giving them an empty workspace, while the President promised that the building would have the necessary furniture for the Police to function.
Blake said that the actions will continue until the President addresses the matter fully which includes the departure of the DGS and her agents.
