Mold woes controlled

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Mold woes controlled

http://www.thenassauguardian.net/national_local/291808593479832.php

By VIRAJ PERPALL, Guardian Staff Reporter

viraj@...

The Nassau Guardian Fri, 19 Jan 2007 7:38 AM PST

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education (MOE) Creswell

Sturrup has confirmed that the mold problem at the Ministry of

Education building on Boulevard is currently being brought

under control.

While speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Mr Sturrup said that he

met with officials recently where the issue was discussed. He

reported that since the initial problem - which had much press

coverage and controversy connected with it twelve months ago - much

has been done to treat the situation.

Mr Sturrup said that the situation called for the changing of

certain air-conditioning vents within the building as remediation

steps in the situation.

He further directed The Guardian to the Ministry of Health which he

said would be better equipped to answer all questions on the matter,

seeing that they were directly involved with the extermination of

the molds.

However up until press time Ministry of Health officials and

Environmental Health officials were unavailable for comment.

The issue of molds at the MOE grabbed headlines last January when

workers in the MOE building refused to stay at work due to the

strong fumes that were present there on their arrival one morning.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Housing, Neville Wisdom, (whose youth

ministry shares the building with the Ministry of Education) said at

that time that he blamed the mold issue on the improper construction

of the building which was carried out under the previous FNM

administration.

He indirectly slammed the FNM government for building the complex

without windows that could not open and without a proper ventilation

system.

Sources also told The Guardian that the building which is said to

have cost some $30 million had molds in it long before the two

ministries moved in.

Sources added that this is not the only government building with

this affliction, but said that many of the public buildings

throughout New Providence have mold and mildew problems, which can

affect the health of staff working within them.

In a letter dated December 15, 2003, The Bahamas Public Service

Union Secretary General, J - an agriculturist by

profession - suggested the mold was Liposcelis divinatorius, more

commonly known as barklice or booklice. Scientists have said that

humans can contract upper respiratory maladies, as well as

esophageal maladies, after direct contact with this mold.

Last year it was also revealed that a number of different molds were

found in the building on Boulevard by a team of

environmental inspectors.