HAVE MERCY, MR PM
We have children to care for
Anna Ramdass aramdass@trinidadexpress.com
Friday, February 12th 2010
A woman employed with the private contractor who was fired for disobeying orders to conserve water from Local Government Minister Hazel Manning has called on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to have mercy and conduct a proper investigation as she and eight others are now on the breadline.
On Tuesday, it was exclusively reported by the Express that sprinklers were being used to water the lawn at the prime minister’s residence in St Ann’s, at a time when there is a water shortage in the country.
A day later, Manning, in a statement to the Parliament, said the contractor- Terra Forma Design and Construction Ltd-had disobeyed orders from his wife to conserve water and was fired. He added that the National Maintenance Training and Security Company Ltd (MTS) would now provide the services of the previous contractor.
Yesterday, an employee of the private contractor, who asked to remain anonymous, visited the Express in the hope of issuing a plea to Manning to help her and the others who were terminated.
With a sad and worried expression, the woman said last Saturday, Mrs Manning told one of the employees to shut off the water. She said the orders were followed. However, on Monday, she said the supervisor, who was absent from work on Saturday, continued watering the lawn as he was unaware of the order.
The woman, who had been employed to look after the gardens of the residence for the past two years, said Manning’s executive house manager, Armando D’ Souza, was not relaying the facts of what transpired, and there was a major breakdown in communication.
The mother of six said it was unfair that she and other employees were terminated. She said her former colleagues are also now placed in a dire situation and mandated her to speak to the press.
’I would like Mr Manning to investigate what really happen. This is unfair. Not all of we should have been fired. We work hard to get that place looking how it is now; it is really unfair that some other people have to come in now,’ the woman lamented.
’This is real hard for me. My husband have a lot of bills, and I have to take care of my children and buy groceries. One of the other women, she have five children; it real hard on all of we,’ she said.
Telephoned last evening for comment, D’Souza said he should be contacted during working hours today.
