Akash Samaroo
Senior Reporter
akash.samaroo@CNC3.co.tt
Infrastructural issues less than one week after moving into their refurbished facility have staff at the St Jude’s Home for Girls up in arms and demanding better from the institution’s management.
Guardian Media was reliably informed by staff members that there is no pipe-borne water at the Diego Martin compound since they moved across with their 65 residents, and this has led to a series of problems.
“Children have to be taken by shuttle back to the old Belmont facility to have a bath,” one worker said under the condition of anonymity.
“We have only female residents on the compound, and with staff, the majority is females over males and when we get our period, we need to use a washroom and it is very uncomfortable if you can’t flush the toilet or wash your hands,” said a worker.
Another employee said the water tanks are also faulty.
“When I was asking about the water Mr (name withheld) told me that fire services came and filled the two tanks, and I don’t know who is the plumber that did not check to see if the lock-off valve is not working properly, and all the water drained back out.”
Workers said the lack of water also means they cannot wash kitchen utensils.
“When we go for lunch, it doesn’t have enough plates for the children and they’re asking if we could buy styrotex plates for the children to eat in, that’s not right.”
Guardian Media attempted to reach the facility’s manager Deoraj Sookdeo however, he did not immediately respond.
Chairman of the Home’s Board of Directors Marsha Bailey said they were aware of the plumbing issues and are actively trying to find a solution by the end of this week.
She lamented that workers thought it necessary to complain to the media when part of the problem is out of their control.
“Diego Martin too has its own water challenges, so yes I could understand them being somewhat disgruntled but there are certain things that are out of our hands. We are trying to get additional storage tanks.”
Meanwhile, Guardian Media asked Bailey if they were aware of the plumbing problems. She said, “No, we didn’t! It was while doing the inspections right before the girls came in it was when we realised it was not functioning to capacity so while they would have spent a lot of money on upgrades, some things we took for granted and the plumber had indicated to us that there are some things we will have to fix in terms of the size of the water line now.”
Bailey said the former St Michael’s School for Boys’ compound which they currently use to avoid closure was not designed for females who use more water.
“The move was out of our hands, we had to move, and now that we’ve found a facility, all the provisions have been made except for a glitch with this pump system and things like this will happen in a building that has been down for a little while.”
Bailey is requesting patience as they also seek a sustainable solution.
“We have to find a more long-term solution, with the tanks that are there and with the water rescheduling that is a particular challenge, we need to purchase new tanks and see about the plumbing issues, it works one day, it glitches another day.”
What the PM said
On June 1, while speaking to supporters of the People’s National Movement in Malabar, Arima, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley boasted that a significant sum of money was spent on refurbishing the location.
“There was a fire in St Jude’s Home, the place burned down, cannot be used and they moved into brand new premises in what used to be St Michael’s in Diego Martin. How do you think they moved inside there? Because the road is there? It’s because we spent $20 million upgrading that place and as God had it, it was ready and available to put the young girls inside there.”
Workers, however, say if that is true, they are not seeing value for the money spent.
