By Admin. Updated 5:00 p.m., Thursday, 8 January 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
New Housing Minister Andrew John has stated that more than 150 “temporary” workers from the Ministry of Housing, who were sent home following the end of a housing programme, could be recalled to work.
Speaking to SVGTV News, Mr John explained that the Hurricane Beryl Recovery project concluded on 31 December. He noted that it is “usual” that when projects like this end “the workers would be asked to await the restart of it…”.
“So more than likely, they’ll be given letters to say that they would be off. It’s not really a dismissal, it’s really the end of the project, right? Supposing it can be recalled, you understand?” he remarked.
The workers received letters dated December 29 informing them that the new government had ended the programme and that their services would no longer be required. The housing ministry also thanked the workers for their service.
In his SVGTV interview, Mr John rejected claims that the workers had been dismissed or victimised. “But it came over with these 150 people were fired and, you know, sort of victimisation, which it is not. Because you would agree that there were some issues, a number of issues and a lot of concerns that persons had in the way the project was administered, especially in the distribution of material.”
He added that some individuals perceived the project as politicised, and that “we want to do a reassessment of it and show that the houses, the materials, are given to the persons who are in need.”
Mr John further observed that more than 700 people remain displaced as a result of Hurricane Beryl.
His remarks contrast with those of Opposition Leader Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who stated that “the ULP government did not put these people on contract to come to an end in December.”
“We had made it clear all the time, these people are ongoing workers,” Dr Gonsalves said at a recent opposition press conference.
END
One News SVG 