Castries, Saint Lucia – May 27, 2025
A sharp increase in sick call-ins has disrupted operations at Customs and Excise Department facilities, prompting reduced services at Hewanorra International Airport, southern seaports, and other key locations.
While early speculation pointed to a strike, Saint Lucia Daily Post has learned that the current disruption is a form of silent protest by workers frustrated over unresolved workplace grievances and what they describe as preferential treatment for one officer.
“It’s not strike action,” a source close to the situation explained. “A couple workers have called in sick because of some issues that we’ve been having surrounding one officer in particular, which seemed to be getting some favourable treatment over other persons,” the source said.
Reports indicate that this is only part of a much broader problem that has festered over several years. Other issues cited include poor working conditions, such as mold and air quality concerns in both Castries and Vieux Fort offices, insufficient staff, inadequate infrastructure, and even the lack of basic office furniture.
“There are issues that have been coming up for years and still are unresolved,” one source suggested. “We are seriously short on staff… inadequate furniture, inadequate infrastructure.”
Saint Lucia Daily Post understands that compensation-related concerns have also fueled tensions. Several officers have reportedly been required to act in higher-grade positions without proper remuneration. Suggestions are that one recently retired officer, received an elevation in responsibilities shortly before retirement but was unable to benefit from the higher post.
Limited customs services have resumed following preliminary discussions between staff and management on Tuesday. “There was a bit of dialogue with management, so that has been reported to staff, and so we have agreed that we’ll return to work on condition that things happen,” a source revealed.
Another meeting between staff and management is expected to take place on Thursday. The outcome of that engagement may determine whether full operations resume across the country’s ports.
Frustration is also being expressed with the Civil Service Association (CSA), which represents customs officers. Although the union has had recent success in government-wide negotiations, many workers feel under represented in the face of localized grievances.
“The union is present, but the strength is not there,” one source explained. “For a number of workers, the question is: what really does the union do for us?”
Despite being a vital cog in the machinery of national revenue collection, Customs and Excise officers continue to operate under conditions that undercut both morale and efficiency.
