OCHO RIOS, St Ann — With reports that one worker has already fallen because of deplorable conditions at the poor relief offices in St Ann’s Bay and Brown’s Town, head of the committee with oversight for these facilities and councillor of the St Ann’s Bay Division Dallas Dickenson has made an urgent call for repairs to be done.

“The office in St Ann’s Bay needs attention. When it rains heavily the veranda is wet because the roof is leaking and it is a serious problem to those who use the space. They can slip and fall and so we at the poor relief department are asking that the superintendent, as well as the roads and works department, move swiftly to remedy the situation,” he said.

Dickenson was speaking Thursday during the monthly sitting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation. He complained that these are long-standing issues.

He received support from councillor of the Brown’s Town Division Kim Brown Lawrence, who said an officer of the poor relief department had already fallen on the veranda mentioned. There was no mention of whether the officer was seriously injured.

Dickenson also raised concerns about the area being occupied by poor relief officers in Brown’s Town.

“The office is termite infested and the windows were also damaged by people of unsound mind. It is not fair for people to be working in spaces like these,” he argued.

“The poor relief committee has a responsibility to speak up for our staff and I’m doing just that,” the locally elected official added.

Dickenson said he is now waiting for chief engineering officer at the St Ann Municipal Corporation Glenford Ricketts to provide a positive feedback about the repairs.

Rickets told the meeting that there is an estimated budget but it needs to be revisited.