00:00A non-profit organization in Labre is calling for an urgent meeting with officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
00:07to discuss reimbursement for services rendered and the issue of being locked out of offices they have used for years.
00:14The group, No Youth Left Behind, claims the locks to three rooms within the ministry's facility at the Labre pitch lake were changed over the weekend.
00:24They were unable to access tools and equipment they need for their operations, which are stored there.
00:30Founder of the community group, Quincy Joseph, believes this action was taken by the ministry
00:35after the NGO began requesting some reimbursement for landscaping and janitorial services their group conducts on site.
00:44We would have been purchasing the garbage bags, the napkins, the strings, the toilet paper, the bleach,
00:51all during COVID, the gloves, the temperature guns, the operational aspect for both the janitorial and the landscaping.
00:59We are asking for a reimbursement.
01:03We wrote a letter for a meeting because we didn't think it had gotten to the point where we would get an eviction notice.
01:10When contacted, the Ministry of Tourism and prospective PNM candidate for the Labre constituency, Randall Mitchell,
01:18says the ministry was looking into the claims and a response would be provided.
01:22However, he says he does not believe any contract exists between the group and the ministry.
01:28Joseph says for years they carried out the services for the ministry under the impression an official contract would legitimise the arrangement.
01:37But that never happened.
01:41Time, we were not opposing the move.
01:44We just wanted more time because we have our items there.
01:47Stuff like power washers, things we use for eco-tours for children, tools, files, paperwork.
01:55Even some of the awards that we would have gotten are in the office.
01:59All we are asking for is a sit down. All we are asking for is an understanding.
02:02All we are asking for, even if you don't want to work with us, be just, be fair.
02:07You know that we have maintained this facility since TDC has closed in 2017.
02:12This ministry site has made no revenue.
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