Bermuda Industrial Union president Chris Furbert has extended his gratitude today on behalf of the officers and workers of the BIU to the workers at the Parks Department, Custodians, Department of Works & Engineering and other government workers who have assisted and continue to assist with the clean-up and restoration of the Island after Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo.

Additionally, Mr Furbert thanked the other workers in Bermuda, including the Bermuda Fire Service, Belco, Bermuda Telephone Company, Bermuda CableVision, the corporations of Hamilton and St George’s, the Bermuda Police Service and the Bermuda Regiment — all who continue to restore Bermuda to its pristine condition before the storm and hurricane.

“In particular, I wish to thank the Bermuda Fire Service staff who came to the aid of the BIU on the Saturday after Hurricane Gonzalo as water had collected on our roof and caused some damage to the offices below,” he said in a BIU statement.

He added that he is certain that all of Bermuda is appreciative of the continuing effort by the above-named workers. “It’s at times like this that we all recognise the value of those men and women who not only keep Bermuda beautiful and clean, but who also make our lives comfortable.

“With the Government’s continued insistence that privatisation, outsourcing and mutualisation is the way forward, I contend that no private company would have been able to carry out the restoration work that was required in such a short space of time,” Mr Furbert said.