The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

TRADE union leader Obie Ferguson has threatened to take the government to court within days over unpaid severance owed to former Grand Lucayan employees, as two longtime workers say the delay has left them struggling with mounting bills, debt and the threat of losing what they have.

Mr Ferguson, president of the Trade Union Congress, said yesterday the union would give the government about another week to act before seeking a court order for the outstanding payments, with interest.

“We're probably going to let it run for about a week more to see whether there will be some reaction from the government,” he said. “If they don't, then I would have to go to court.”

He said the union would ask the court to declare the sums due and order that they be paid with interest of 6.5 percent from the date the payments should have been made.

It is unclear how many former Grand Lucayan employees remain unpaid, but Mr Ferguson described the number as “substantial”.

The dispute has dragged on for months following the closure of the Grand Lucayan, despite what Mr Ferguson said were repeated assurances that the matter would be settled.

He said the union believed a resolution was near after receiving a letter from government officials in February indicating an intention to settle the dispute.

A meeting was later held with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, who Mr Ferguson said instructed the union to submit an assessment of the redundancy payments owed.

Mr Ferguson said the assessment was submitted and workers were told they would be paid by February 27.

They are still waiting.

He said the workers subsequently asked the government for a payment schedule but had not received one.

The dispute comes as former Grand Lucayan managers Jerry Davis and Patsy Hepburn say the wait has pushed them towards financial collapse.

The Tribune reported earlier this month on the plight of Mr Davis, a former senior security coordinator, and Ms Hepburn, a cancer patient who spent 26 years as a customer service manager at the resort.

Both declined severance packages offered after their employment ended, saying the amounts were substantially below their calculations of what they were owed.

Ms Hepburn, who was diagnosed with stage four uterine cancer in 2017, said she remains burdened by medical loans and has had both her electricity and water disconnected.

The Grand Bahama resident has also been taken to court by Royal Bank of Canada over an unpaid loan.

“I’m having a problem surviving in Freeport,” she said.

Mr Davis said “things are tough” as he tries to support his three-year-old daughter and 84-year-old mother.

He said finding employment in Grand Bahama has been difficult and he is struggling to meet his mortgage payments.

Mr Davis said he recently approached his bank about refinancing and was told he had another 30 years remaining on the loan.

“All I say to myself, ‘Jesus, I ain't know if I gonna be living that long. I mean, I don't think so, but I don't want to leave my daughter in debt,” he said.

He said the former employees were seeking only what they believed they were entitled to — “nothing more. Nothing less.”

Mr Ferguson said he found it astounding that the government could spend millions of dollars on roadworks for King Charles’ upcoming visit while other financial obligations remained outstanding.

“All we ask for is basic,” he said. “If you can't pay all one time, pay some. That's all.”

He said such a request could not reasonably be considered excessive.

In May 2025, the government and Concord Wilshire Capital signed an $827m Heads of Agreement for redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, who was then minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said the hotel was sold for $120m.

Prime Minister Davis has said he understood that MSC purchased part of the property while another portion was associated with Concord Wilshire.

He had previously questioned why former employees and businesses that dealt with the resort remained unpaid.

Attempts to reach government officials were unsuccessful up to press time yesterday.