The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FRUSTRATION is mounting for employees at the Thompson Boulevard offices of the Ministries of Youth, Sports and Culture and Education over the building’s failed air-conditioning unit.

Dozens of employees moved outside the building around 11am Wednesday to escape rising temperatures on the inside, while others needing to complete essential tasks huddled around standing fans hoping to stay cool.

The Tribune understands that the air-conditioning unit at the three-story complex has been out of service for the past three weeks, forcing officials at the two ministries to implement a four-hour work schedule per day.

It is unclear what led to the failure of the units or when they will be repaired.

An employee with the Ministry of Education, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, suggested that the government is financially unable to repair the equipment at this time.

That employee said that staff members first noticed an issue with the system in late April. In spite of these reports, employees were told that the matter would not escalate to a point where the system would fail.

“They told us this would not happen. They said they were working on it weeks ago. Now as the days go by, it gets hotter and hotter and we can’t work in these conditions because there is no ventilation in this building,” the source said.

Another source, an employee in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, insisted that the air-conditioning issue has halted several functions over the last few days. That source added that officials have not clarified what the issue is and are operating on a day-to-day basis.

Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald has been out of the country and was expected to return Wednesday night.

Minister of Culture Danny Johnson could not be reached for comment.