Sickout by workers at Port Antonio Tax Office halts operations

Operations at the Port Antonio Tax Office in Portland have been halted as disgruntled workers stage a sickout.

They are upset over working conditions, particularly the absence of air conditioning.

They say the heat inside the building is unbearable.

The workers are also upset that portable AC units that were brought in yesterday to replace ones that broke down is not offering relief.

Further, they claim that poor quality air from the portable units caused at least four employees to became sick.

According to a worker, one of them had to be rushed to hospital after experiencing vomiting, nausea, and severe headache. 

Members of the public who turned up at the tax office to find it closed were left upset.

"This is unacceptable and I was not aware of this closure," said a man who gave his name as Mark Hamilton from a Hectors River address in Portland. 

"I travelled from very far to get here only to realise that di place close. Mi come fi sort out mi property tax and to pay for mi tax pon mi vehicle. Mi run one likkle grocery shop, so all dem tax deh mi have fi pay. And di sun hot, so now mi haffi go back home and mi nuh get nothing done," he added.

Similar sentiments were expressed by persons who turned up at the tax office.

- Gareth Davis Snr 

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