Less than 24 hours after a town hall meeting, student residents of 138 Student Living, unsatisfied with the outcome, gathered outside the Leslie Robinson Hall (LRH) at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus on Friday (October 7) to protest various issues they have been having with their living conditions.

Students could be heard protesting the cost of laundry services, which have seen charges for wash and dry increase from $250 per load for each wash and dry to $400 per load, double the cost for other halls on campus.

“I can reassure you, and I know you will go into uproar after this, no, the price of the laundry will not reduce, ‘138’ is an independently run organisation that is invested in by private investors who expect to get a return on their investment. The cost of investment is funded by finances from banks at rates of upwards of 10 per cent on loans that have to be paid,” said Cranston D. Ewan, CEO of 138 Student Living at the town hall meeting on Thursday (October 6).

“This is an organisation independent of the University of the West Indies which cannot operate like the University of the West Indies.”

During the meeting, Ewan pointed out the following as he addressed the issues of cost for washing and drying as well as the shortage of available machines:

• The laundry facilities are a huge loss-maker for 138 Student Living.
• New machines are currently being invested in (one new washer and one new dryer for Leslie Robinson Hall) but there are limitations with available supply.
• Machines historically have been subjected to damage from, overworking, frequent power surges and improper use.
• Delays in repairing the current machines are because local suppliers do not have the necessary parts however they are being imported and already on their way here.
• All machines (washers and dryers) have been serviced within the last 2 weeks and he was unaware that they were still giving issues after servicing.
• Costs to students are already subsidised by more than half and if they were to be charged at cost then the price would be at least double the current fees.
• The reason that other halls can keep their prices low is because UWI creates subsidies by generating their own water and electricity which does not extend to 138 Student Living which purchases the utilities at commercial rates from the university.
• Hall fees do not cover the laundry facilities.
• The laundry facilities are to extend their opening hours up until 8:00pm and accept appointments as late as 6:30pm.

He also acknowledged that he understood some of the issues around drying clothes and indicated that, in cases where the dryer does not operate correctly, contact should be made with the building’s customer service supervisor, Marva Thompson, for assistance.

UWI Guild President Omolora Wilson told Our Today:

Armani Gomes, hall chair for the George Alleyne Hall, sister hall to LRH, shared with Our Today that “they and members of George Alleyne are present and stand in solidarity with the Leslie Robinson Hall to address the issues plaguing students with some having been present from before last year and some which started September 1, and we collectively have been frustrated with 138 Student Living for quite some time and peacefully want to highlight the issues of our students”.

Aaron Samuel, vice-hall chair, shared: “As residents ourselves, we understand the concerns and know these concerns are real. Truthfully these are not the right conditions, but as we go forward we hope to liaise and come to a common ground that is favourable to our residents and the 138 body on a whole.”

Since the protest, UWI Mona’s Chancellor Hall has offered the affected students access to its laundromat.

Students are also frustrated with the company’s handling of the hall’s mould issue, sub-par facilities and pest control.

A resident of George Alleyne, who requested anonymity, said: “Earlier this year, there was one time I had to kill a rat that fell from the ceiling. I know people on the flat told the staff about it and I still don’t know what they’re doing about the situation, and people on LRH have it even worse, they have a garbage heap near their hall that is hardly ever cleaned that you can smell as you walk past the hall.”

Our Today was informed by a representative from LRH that 138 has been instructed by the university to devise an action plan to address the issues.