Mold forces employees out of building

NASSAU, Bahamas — Employees in the Ministry of Education building, which is also occupied by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, walked off the job yesterday in protest of an ongoing mold problem, according to The Nassau Guardian.

Some employees claim the mold problem is continually getting worse and contamination is now clearly visible on the ceiling of the building, the story stated.

President of the Bahamas Public Services Union John Pinder said: "The union was concerned with the fact that the mold was making a number of the members sick. The ministry has agreed that all persons who suffer any respiratory or any illnesses as a result of the mold will be relocated immediately."

According to the story, the most difficult task will be moving all 500 employees out of the building to temporary work sites to complete the necessary work.

In addition to hiring a contractor to completely remediate the mold, the owner of the building, the National Insurance Board (NIB), will spend $3 million to replace the malfunctioning heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, the story noted.

At least seven women who were pregnant at some point since the Ministry of Education relocated to the building in 2003 said their children have asthma-related problems believed to be caused by the mold, the story added.

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