Lifeguards want meeting with Dillon

In an interview yesterday, Sylvester said lifeguards have been working under poor conditions and the service has been understaffed for the past six to seven years.

“We are calling on Dillon to sit down with us to discuss the terms and conditions of the lifeguards before talking about extending hours,” Sylvester said.

He explained if the lifeguards who are off for the weekend do not agree to do overtime work, there will be a skeleton staff which will be insufficient to monitor sea bathers. He said they are also at a disadvantage because the lifeguard towers at Maracas Beach are in a dilapidated condition.

“During the school vacation, around the months of July and August, there is an increase of visitors to the beach and their lives may not be safe. It might be safer for them to stay at home and bath in their bathrooms.” On Tuesday, Leader of Government Business in the Senate Franklin Khan said Government has no intention of increasing the complement of lifeguards at beaches but will consider extending the hours of work beyond 5 pm. He was speaking in response to a question on what measures Government intended given three recent drownings. Sylvester, however, is resolute that there will be no such move until they are able to meet with Dillon.

He said, “Discussion is a thing that is foreign to them (Government).” “We had a protest and a meeting with Minister Dillon on April 3 and he promised us another meeting on April 26. To date that meeting has not happened.