A years-long dispute over unsafe working conditions at Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) has erupted into open confrontation, with the country’s People’s Union publicly accusing Prime Minister Gaston Browne and ONDCP Director Edward Croft of deliberately lying to the public about the state of building renovations and employee medical testing. The conflict stems from more than eight years of unaddressed worker complaints about severe health hazards at the ONDCP headquarters, and has escalated after misleading claims made by Browne during the August 15, 2026 broadcast of the *Browne and Browne Show*.
The origins of the crisis stretch back to 2018, when ONDCP staff first began reporting persistent health issues linked to their workplace. A 2025 structural assessment ordered by the government, led by Dr. Linroy Christian, confirmed a host of immediate hazards: toxic mould growth, poor indoor air quality, insufficient ventilation, and widespread moisture buildup. Critically, ONDCP management intentionally hid employee reports of respiratory illness, chronic fatigue, and unexplained skin rashes linked to these poor conditions from Dr. Christian during his initial evaluation. By September 2025, with no action from leadership, employees turned to the People’s Union for support, and a subsequent meeting with Dr. Christian brought the full extent of worker health impacts to light. Dr. Christian introduced a formal system for staff to document their symptoms, and Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin acknowledged the severity of the hazards by approving a reduced work hour arrangement for affected employees.
Tensions boiled over in February 2026, after multiple requests for updates from Director Croft went unanswered. Staff launched peaceful industrial action, which finally prompted Croft to enter negotiations with the union. A meeting mediated by the Deputy Labour Commissioner produced a formal agreement: all employees would undergo full medical testing, including specialized screenings for mould exposure, in recognition of years of hazardous workplace exposure. The agreement explicitly referenced ILO Convention 155, Article 13, an international labor standard that Antigua and Barbuda has ratified, which enshrines workers’ right to a safe working environment. After continued delays from Croft, Permanent Secretary Edson Joseph intervened, leading to a second round of building assessments by Dr. Christian. This follow-up evaluation found that unaddressed hazards had worsened: mould was now growing under office furniture, and a new rat infestation had created additional public health risks.
A new remediation agreement was reached, requiring full renovations of the building, a post-construction safety assessment by Dr. Christian, and completion of all agreed medical testing before staff returned to full in-person work. During renovations, employees agreed to a remote work arrangement, which Croft claimed was unfeasible, instead stating he supported full remediation. Even during the relocation, a small group of staff continued to deliver critical ONDCP services. In April 2026, the government moved to designate ONDCP an essential service, a step the union views as a deliberate attempt to strip workers of their right to lawful industrial action and force them back into an unsafe building before hazards were resolved. The union rejected the intimidation tactic, noting it did nothing to address the core health and safety issues that sparked the dispute. Management staff who raised concerns were reportedly threatened with reassignment to the Prime Minister’s Office on full eight-hour shifts if they left the building, forcing many to continue working in unsafe conditions against their better judgment.
By mid-2026, the Ministry of Works issued a report claiming all required renovations were complete, a representation the union says is factually incorrect. Renovations were not actually finished until July 2026, and even after completion, staff and union representatives observed ongoing issues including visible water leaks, persistent musky odors linked to hidden mould, and unfinished construction work. For Prime Minister Browne to rely on this inaccurate, incomplete report for his public comments is reckless and irresponsible, the union argues: Browne failed to conduct basic fact-checking before addressing the nation on radio, and has dismissed years of legitimate worker hardship based on false information.
The union has also refuted two key false claims made by Browne regarding the agreed medical testing process. First, Browne claimed all ONDCP employees had completed full medical testing, including mould-related screenings. In reality, the three-phase testing process remains incomplete, with the union still waiting for coordination between the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and the Permanent Secretary’s office to schedule the final round of testing. Second, Browne publicly claimed all employees had been medically cleared to return to full work, a statement that is impossible given the incomplete testing process. Many employees have not yet received all of their test results, and no final comprehensive assessment has been issued. The union is raising serious questions about how Browne obtained this information: it is highly irregular for the Prime Minister to comment on confidential employee health information that the workers themselves have not yet received, and the union is demanding clarity on who provided this inaccurate information and under what authority.
A key point of contention is that Browne never made any attempt to engage directly with affected ONDCP employees, visit the workplace to inspect conditions himself, meet with the Permanent Secretary leading resolution efforts, or hold discussions with the People’s Union before making his public statements. Despite having no firsthand knowledge of the dispute, Browne has positioned himself as an authority on the issue and dismissed worker concerns as unfounded. “The health and medical status of workers is far too serious to be reduced to political talking points,” the union stated in its release.
The union is now publicly challenging Browne and Croft to produce evidence to back up their claims: full renovation completion reports, copies of the signed agreements between all parties, complete medical testing records, and proof that all terms of the agreement have been satisfied. The union also demands that Browne correct the public record and provide the people of Antigua and Barbuda with accurate information about the ongoing dispute.
The People’s Union reaffirmed its unwavering support for ONDCP employees, emphasizing that no worker should ever be forced to choose between protecting their physical health and keeping their job. The union remains open to good-faith negotiations with the government and ONDCP leadership to resolve the dispute, but will not accept misinformation, intimidation, or distortion of the facts. Workers will not return to full eight-hour work schedules until the final phase of medical testing is completed and a full, public safety report is issued by the Chief Medical Officer. The statement was signed by People’s Union General Secretary Ms. Andie Stephen.
