The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT - The Progressive Liberal Party's northern branch is claiming permanent workers dismissed from Hutchison's operations in Grand Bahama are being replaced by participants in the government's Job Training Programme. The PLP also said foreign nationals are now being given first priority when it comes to jobs on the island. Party officials released a statement demanding that government not only revisit the poorly implemented" Job Training Programme, but also look into the hiring practices of certain businesses in Grand Bahama. "The Progressive Liberal Party is perturbed at reports which indicate that once permanent employees at reputable Grand Bahama establishments, like the Container Port and the Grand Lucayan Resort, are being replaced by participants of the Government's Job Training Programme. "It has also been brought to our attention that permanent employees in certain Departments at the Grand Lucaya are being asked to train the government job trainees and then in an unacceptable measure, the permanent employees are being let go by the resort," the statement said. The PLP said it believes the job training programme is providing free labour to certain businesses in Grand Bahama at the expense of tax payers and to the detriment of job security. "This is clearly a poorly thought-out scheme by the Ingraham administration, which has bungled every economic decision thus far in the face of the worst recession since the great depression, and the remnant of that recession. "How does one justify the termination of qualified Bahamians reliant on full salaries from private entities, being replaced by temporary untrained workers, who in the main are FNM cronies and their family members?" The statement further claimed that employees at some hotels who were sent home last year as part of a downsizing exercise were brought back on specially negotiated three month contracts with fewer hours and therefore less pay. The PLP claims that with these contracts set to expire, those employees, who have been notified that their contracts will not be renewed, are now being asked to train the government workers to fill their jobs. "Could this also be the reason behind the terminations of the 70-plus workers who were sent home from the Container Port? Just how much will this plot thicken?" the party asked. "We call on the government to speedily look into the human resources affairs at certain Grand Bahama businesses... not just the poorly implemented Jobs Training Programme, but this unusual occurrence in Grand Bahama of foreign nationals being given first priority for jobs." "We also call on the government to be open and transparent, as it is our understanding that Rev Lindy Russell, former FNM Member of Parliament for Eight Mile Rock, has been appointed to oversee the Job Training programme here in Grand Bahama. "On the eve of an election we would hope that Rev Russell has not been mandated, especially in these difficult times to either 'look out' for cronies, or use the temporary jobs as an inducement for vulnerable Bahamians to support the Free National Movement," said the statement. The PLP said that it will implement a more "fair and efficient" job training programme by launching Career Academies throughout the Bahamas. These will train Bahamians to compete for 21st century jobs in a rebounding Bahamian economy, and equip them for new opportunities - as opposed to secretly training them to take existing jobs from worthy Bahamians, the party said. Additionally, the PLP said that if elected, there would be immediate measures to put "Grand Bahamians first", including: * A significant hike in work permit fees for jobs Bahamians are qualified to perform. * A programme to identify local replacements for foreigners already on a work permit, once the current permit has expired. * In instances where qualified Bahamians are not available, the provision of educational and training opportunities to make them better candidates going forward. * The advertising of all job vacancies with trade unions and employment agencies before any work permit is issued. * A collaborative scheme with the Grand Bahama Ship Yard and others to reduce the number of non-nationals working at these companies. * The expansion of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) on Grand Bahama help create more job opportunities for Bahamians.