Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
A REPRESENTATIVE of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is expected in the island within the next two weeks to conduct investigations into the safety practices at the island's sugar factories, the Ministry of Labour said yesterday.
The announcement comes in the midst of calls for an enquiry into the fire which killed five Indian nationals at the Monymusk Sugar Factory in Clarendon on Sunday, and for an examination of the safety practices in place at sugar factories across the island. The calls are mainly from union leaders and Opposition Members of Parliament.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Alvin McIntosh, told The Gleaner yesterday that the ministry was very concerned about the recent deaths at the sugar factories.
"The ministry has dispatched a team to investigate the circumstances of this accident. In fact, it is most unfortunate ... that this has happened," said McIntosh.
SEEKING SAFETY STANDARDS
He said it was in this light that "we have sought the assistance of the International Labour Organisation to provide someone who is highly competent in this area to do a complete audit of the safety procedures in these factories."
Member of Parliament for South East Clarendon, Ruddy Spencer, is among those calling for the Government to immediately commence an investigation into the death of the five Indians.
Pearnel Charles, vice-president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, said it was important for the Ministry of Labour to examine the factories to see whether they met the safety standards of the Factories Act.
Police reports said Sunday's fire started around 3:00 a.m. Three of those who died were expatriates from India.
They have been identified as 35-year-old Ajay Jadley, 28-year-old Nakul Singh and 28-year-old Anil Singh. Also dead are 30-year-old Garima Jadley and nine-year-old Natasha Jadley the wife and daughter of Ajay Jadley.
