Saint Lucia's Fire Chief is thankful that the weekend's sick-out action by officers did not endanger the public and had no effect on the island's flight schedule.  

 

Almost 60 percent of Fire Service personnel called in sick for work on Saturday May 10.  The Saint Lucia Fire Service Welfare Association says this industrial action was taken to draw attention to its concerns.

 

The Gros Islet station was downscaled to redeploy resources to the George F.L Charles Airport. Fire Chief Leslie Fontenelle says this compromised the safety of the entire north of the island.

"We have been very challenged over the dry season.  Just the week before we responded to 23 bush fires so obviously there would be a concern that if that same level of bush fires were to emerge in that situation it would produce almost an impossible situation for the department,” said Fontenelle.

Given that the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival climaxed over the weekend, authorities thought it prudent to man both airports. Twelve officers from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were called in to supplement resources. 

 

Fontenelle says he fears for the public as the Welfare Association’s grievances are beyond his sphere to address.

 

"It is a very uncertain situation because of the fact that the Association has assumed that kind of posture in dealing with this matter.  Really, none of the actions are at my level," he said.

The Fire Chief thanked the officers at the Soufriere Fire Station for reporting for duty on Saturday.  
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