MNI Media
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
With the second confirmed case of COVID-19 on Montserrat, Cabinet has made a decision to close all non-essential businesses on island for a period of fourteen (14) days effective Thursday, March 26th, 2020.
The office of the Deputy Governor (ODG) followed up by declaring that from tomorrow, Thursday 26th March, only essential Government of Montserrat staff should attend their workplace.
For the avoidance of doubt, the following have been identified as essential services at this time:
- Royal Montserrat Police Service (to include Marine and IBSU)
- Fire and Rescue Services
- Prison Services
- Ministry of Health and Social Services (All Departrnents)
- Radio Montserrat
- Government lnformation Unit
- Cesspool Operators and Driver
- Customs
- Supreme Court Registry (Births and deaths)
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (at the direction of the DPP)
- Attomey General's Chambers (at the direction of the Attomey General)
- Department of Information and E-Govemment Services (DITES)
- Ministry of Finance (Budget and Economic Team, Treasury, General Post Office)
- DMCA
Employees in the following areas are expected to be on call:
- Prison Services
- Airport Management
- SecurityNightWatchmen
- Access
- Air Traffic
- Extemal Affairs
- Cabinet Secretariat
- PWD
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary
- Plant/Nursery Workers
- Animal Protection workers
- Consular/Passport Services
The above list of areas is subject to review says the ODG, and from time to time adjustments will be made as the situation demands.
All staff would have been previously advised of the adoption of flexible working arrangements, and most Heads of Departments would have been developing business continuity plans aimed at reducing the number of staff in various offices at any one time.
