Hewanorra International Airport.
A notice was recently issued to security guards attached to the Hewanorra International Airport, informing them that they are no longer allowed to eat behind the airport.
St. Lucia News Online (SNO) understands that at present, there is no lunch room facility for most of the security guards employed there.
General Security Limited,which has the majority of security personnel working at the airport, is mostly affected by this change.
One of the guards told SNO that a memorandum was issued to this effect, to all security guards on April 30.
“We do not have a lunch area. We use to eat at the back of the airport, now we have to sit on the grass and eat our lunch, under trees…wherever,” a guard said.
The guard, who asked not to be named, said most of the staff employed with General Security would usually walk with their lunches, but are now forced to purchase food from restaurants close by.
Another security officer told SNO that persons are not pleased with the decision, because nothing has been put in place to facilitate those who are likely to walk with home-cooked food, noting that purchasing fast food is expensive.
The security said it is not clear how long they will have to continue to work under these conditions.
Management is however looking to renovate an area which previously served as a rest room, and make it into the lunch room for the guards.
Meanwhile, Managing Director at General Security Limited Peter Pinel told SNO today that he is aware of the situation and said that it is being addressed.
“The airport manager had indicated that this would be addressed sometime this week, but they are not sure how fast they could complete the room. They have identified a room already,” he explained.
Pinel said his staff have been advised to have their lunch at the company’s main office, which is located a few minutes away from the airport.
However, he admits,“It is not always too conducive, because sometime it is too early and again we don’t have a lunch room at the airport itself.”