Dr. Ronya Foy Connor, Gender Development Coordinator of Gender Affairs Anguilla, Ministry of Social Development and Education, presented over 200 reusable face masks to the Comptroller of the Anguilla Customs Department, Mr. Travis Carty; Head of the Immigration Department, Ms. Laureen Bryan; and Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Jo-Anne Hodge, for the use of their Officers.
Through various training facilitations held in conjunction with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) team, and through personal conversations with government staff, Dr. Foy Connor noted that there is still a great amount of hesitation as we are roughly two weeks into the Phase 2, 1st November reopening.
In order to help support the transition into the “new normal” of working in an environment of heightened safety procedures, and managing personal fears, concerns and anxieties, Gender Affairs Anguilla, in partnership with UN Women, donated the reusable face masks to essential government departments that interact extensively with diverse individuals. Each mask was handmade by Mrs. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel with various colourful and uplifting designs.
Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Hodge, stated that: “The Department of Labour wishes to express its appreciation to the UN Women, and Mrs. Gilda Gumbs-Samuel, for undertaking this very timely initiative as we observe the COVID-19 protocols. We will make good use of the donated masks.” Masks usage will support the other hygiene and safety protocols – including social distancing, washing hands frequently, sanitising surfaces and taking appropriate precautions.
The Head of the Immigration Department, Ms. Laureen Bryan, expressed the following: “With the ports now reopened, it is crucial for our frontline officers to feel safe and more secure in this COVID-19 era. Therefore, it is necessary to implement all the safety measures and have our Immigration Officers well equipped and comfortable as they undertake their duties.”
As part of the masks donation and preparation mechanisms, Dr. Foy Connor was invited to speak at the Customs Department staff meeting and formally present the face masks to Officers. During that meeting, Officers were able to voice their concerns about adjusting to COVID protocols in addition to learning tips on how to correctly wear and care for the reusable masks. Mr. Travis Carty, Comptroller of Customs, indicated that the masks donation could not have come at a better time as Customs was deliberating on various initiatives to ease the anxieties of many officers. He emphatically thanked Gender Affairs Anguilla, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and Education, for considering the well-being of the Customs Department.
Customs, Labour and Immigration Officers will continue to benefit from the initiatives of the MHPSS team as they participate in the “Well-being in the Workplace” training sessions in the weeks to come. The sessions will cover critical topics including: Stigma and Discrimination in the time of COVID, Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution in the Workplace, Stress and Coping Methods during COVID-19 and Customer Service Excellence under COVID Protocols.
Gender Affairs Anguilla is proud to be committed to the ongoing measures to continuously equip frontline workers for the reopening of Anguilla after a nearly eight-month shutdown due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Head of Immigration, Ms. Bryan, noted that, “Immigration Officers look forward to welcoming visitors, and returning nationals, alike, to our tranquil and beautiful island. Management and staff of the Immigration Department would like to express sincere appreciation to Gender Affairs Anguilla for providing such beautiful tropical masks to all Immigration Officers.”
Dr. Foy Connor responded by highlighting that, ultimately, “the best workers are those who feel confident not only in their own abilities but in the ability to navigate successfully in a changing environment.” She concluded by saying, “I hope that this donation offers just a little extra confidence to these three departments. I look forward to donating additional masks to various individuals and organisations, on behalf of Gender Affairs Anguilla, in the weeks to come.”
– Contributed
