No lifeguards at the beaches on Easter weekend

BEACH LOVERS preparing to enjoy their Easter weekend at the nation’s beaches may have to bathe at their own risk, as lifeguards will be staying away unless the issues of wages and job classifications are resolved by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO). In a meeting held yesterday at the National Union of Government Federated Workers’ (NUGFW) office, health and safety officer of the lifeguard branch, Kirk Morton, declared that lifeguards will be staging a protest, by marching from the CPO’s office on St Vincent Street to Whitehall on March 3. There, they hope to have an audience with the Prime Minister and present him with petitions, which will be available from tomorrow for the public to sign at all the nation’s beaches. “Our concluding march will be held on March 17, where if our dispute is not addressed, we will withhold our services for the Easter weekend,” said Morton.

Morton said on February 11, a meeting was held between the CPO and lifeguards, where the CPO proposed that the lifeguard service stay between Grades V-II. Morton said they have rejected the proposal as three new positions created (all approved by Cabinet), patrol captain, instructor and community education officer, all fall under a supervisory level which is higher than Grade I. “They want to put these new positions in Grade V-II which is wrong,” said Morton. Ironically, March 2004 was the first time lifeguards began their protest, and it was also during the Easter weekend they decided to stay away. “We have been taking action since last year, and we do not want people to lose their lives.

However, the CPO has done no investigations to implement that lifeguards may have a case for better terms and working conditions,” said Morton. At present, the highest salary of a lifeguard which falls under the Grade II category is $176 per day, while Grade V workers receive $156 per day.  “Lifeguards put their lives at risk on the job, our salaries cannot be the same as a mason or foreman,” said Morton. Lifeguards are required to have two diving qualifications and five lifeguard qualifications which meet international standards. Morton said lifeguards will continue to work on the beaches until March 17.