Lifeguards protest this weekend

LIFEGUARDS throughout the country will protest this weekend for an increase in salaries. They will converge at the Cruise Ship Complex from 8 am on Saturday, when the cruise liner, Braemer and its 820 passengers are expected to dock. The action will continue on Sunday when another cruise ship, Ocean Village and its 1,800 passengers are also expected to dock at the Port of Port-of-Spain. At a press conference at Maracas Bay yesterday, the lifeguards warned, “the seas are rough and tourists and locals should stay away from the beaches, because their lives are at risk this weekend.” They say there are no guarantees that normalcy would return, and “this is the cruise ship season.”

John Whiskey, the secretary of the Life Guards Association explained that lifeguards were classified as grade five workers last year. The new grade lumped them with other daily rated workers, like foremen, masons, plumbers and carpenters. The lifeguards say they receive $171 daily, when they are supposed to receive $176 daily. Whiskey said the protest comes at a time when they have exhausted all avenues, and it would be the first time they would be protesting for an increase in salaries. Health and safety officer, Kirk Morton, said lifeguards should not be paid less than $260 daily. He argued that their jobs are high risk, and even insurance companies double their premiums when they apply for life insurance. Morton said lifeguards save over 80 lives a year, and even when one is lost, “we are sued.” They are calling for separate classification.

But shop steward, Curtis Hernandez, said representatives from the Chief Personnel Officer’s (CPO) office have categorically told them that this could not be done, since other workers would object. As part of the NUGFW, Hernandez said talks have broken down, “and they don’t seem interested in getting a resolution.” He said a meeting was scheduled for today, but it was cancelled. “We can’t go on like this, it is frustrating and that could mean endangering the lives of bathers.” The lifeguards insist that the Ministry of Tourism under which they fall must get more involved in the issue. They said while Government has recognised lifeguards, in that they have appointed certain new positions, “they need to get more involved.” Coincidentally, schools soon close for Christmas vacation and families are expected to head to the beaches.