Earl Barrett (right), president of the Kingston East and Port Royal Rotary Club, shares ideas with past president of the club, Bentley Jones, and Fiona Ferron, province principal, during the launch of the club's community outreach programme. The four-day workshop for teachers was held at St Benedict's Primary School in Bull Bay, St Andrew, on Wednesday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

With less than three days before the start of the new academic year, some street sweepers in the Corporate Area have not bought as much as a pencil for their children.

For nearly six weeks they have not been paid their due wages and they are angry about it.

"On the seventh of August we should a get a pay bill, and we don't get it on the 22nd again. We supposed to get another and now August done and we don't get no pay for that month," an irate female worker told The Gleaner on Wednesday.

According to the workers, the problem has been stemming from Government's failure to turn over money owed to waste management contractors to which the workers are employed.

"They are telling we that they don't know when we are getting paid because MPM (Metropolitan Parks and Markets) no pay out nutten," another street sweeper explained.

"The Government dem not paying the people dem to sweep the road and they are still working!"

Payment woes widespread

Executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, Joan Gordon-Webley, was terse when The Gleaner asked her about the situation.

"Everybody in Jamaica has issue in payments. we are not alone and when people have problems in paying Singer, there is not a report to say somebody is having problems paying Singer," she responded to Gleaner queries. She did not say how soon the issues were expected to be resolved.

In the meantime, the street workers are worried about the new school year.

One worker, who is a single mother of four, is particularly concerned because the fathers of her children have already lost their jobs since the economic crisis took effect.

The workers are paid $6,150 fortnightly and turn up for duties from as early as 5 o'clock each morning.

"The main (road) haffi done sweep by 8 o'clock or else we can't get we pay. Some people de pon de road all 9, 10 and 11 o'clock a sweep 'cause dem have five road fi sweep," she argued.

"Right ya now, me not even have nothing fi gi them fi eat. Me tired fi feed dem pon tin mackerel ya now!" she said. "Me tired a dis ya country ya now tired a it!"

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com

Right ya now, me not even have nothing fi gi them (her children) fi eat. Me tired fi feed dem pon tin mackerel ya now!

- street sweeper