The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE were called to the Ministry of Works early yesterday morning after several angry contractors stormed in demanding three months of overdue pay, The Tribune has learned.

According to sources, police were called to the Ministry’s headquarters on John F Kennedy Drive when one of the contractors is alleged to have threatened Permanent Secretary Colin Higgs and “cussed out” a female member of his staff.

Sources say the men entered the building around 10.30am demanding to see Mr Higgs after they were not paid for work they did on various Urban Renewal buildings.

One of the disgruntled contractors reportedly “cussed out” the woman employee when she tried to “calm him down” and threatened Mr Higgs if he weren’t paid immediately, the source said.

Police were called but the men left the building before they arrived.

When contacted, Mr Higgs confirmed that an incident took place, but said it was a simple misunderstanding.

“There were one or two persons here looking for payments they claim were overdue. I explained to them that they were still being processed. We hire a lot of contractors and so we have to process them properly, “ he said.

“They were concerned that it was taking too long, but we have a lot of documents to process. One of them became verbally abusive to a lady working here and an officer who was with the Deputy Prime Minister came and spoke to him. It’s just a matter of time before they get paid, but they will get paid.”

Mr Higgs remained tight lipped on how much the men were owed and what work they had done for the Ministry.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis could not be contacted for comment up to press time.

Reports have reached The Tribune of a number of disputes erupting at other government offices over nonpayment of contracts.