Census workers paid

Persons working with the 2020 Population and Housing Census have been paid the majority of monies owed to them.

A month ago, the contracted workers had complained that despite signing a contract with Government to be paid bi-weekly they had yet to receive their monies after working for over five weeks.

At the time Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Marsha Caddle indicated she was aware of the situation and it was being swiftly rectified.

Some of the workers told Barbados TODAY they were paid last week.

“I am so relieved to finally get my money because the long wait was really beginning to take a toll on me and my family,” one ecstatic woman said.

“A lot of this money I have to give to people who lent me money while I was waiting to be paid because I did not have a cent. But I didn’t want to stop working because I really needed the money because I wasn’t working so I took the decision to borrow the money so I could continue doing my work.”

Another woman said she hoped that the remainder of the monies owed to the workers would be paid in a timely fashion.

The census, by the Barbados Statistical Services, was conducted from August 1 until September 30.

“I am happy to get paid most of my money but I really don’t want to have to go through the same hassle to get the rest. There was a point in time where I was calling, calling all the time to find out when I would be paid and no one could tell me anything,” she said.

“So while I am really glad I am just hoping that I don’t have to go through this waiting period again because it isn’t anything easy.”

Minister Caddle earlier said the delay, while unacceptable was due to an accounting issue and vowed to have it addressed as soon as possible. (RB)