The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

AS the extent of Renew Bahamas’ financial woes become clearer, the Department of Labour yesterday confirmed that at least three former employees have lodged applications to have their dispute with the company resolved by the department’s Industrial Relations Unit.

Refusing to reveal specifics of each individual case, Labour Director Robert Farquharson told The Tribune that three former employees of the waste management company have filed complaints with the department in the last week.

According to Mr Farquharson, the claims range from wrongful dismissal to unpaid wages.

The day after Renew Bahamas CEO Michael Cox dismissed claims that the management company backed out of agreements to issue outstanding pay to several of its former employees.

Mr Cox told The Tribune that the company had established agreements with a number of employees, guaranteeing them that they would be paid “in full” by the end of July.

“We have communicated with all employees, those still with us and those that are no longer with us. We have been open and upfront on the process that is going on. Up to two times a week, we have discussions with the employees to make them aware of where we are,” Mr Cox said on Monday.

Despite that statement, however, several former workers have indicated that the company hasn’t reached out to them to sort through outstanding payments. Those employees have gone as far as labelling the company as cash-strapped.

When asked on Tuesday of the specifics of these dispute applications, Mr Farquharson confirmed that all three were filed last week.

He indicated that all three matters will be handled by the department’s Industrial Relations Unit, with the first hearing expected to convene on Wednesday.

Renew Bahamas is urging the Christie administration to renegotiate the current management deal in place.

The company claims that the deal, which is set to expire in 2019, is unfavourable to its profit margins.

In a recent interview with Tribune Business, former Renew Bahamas CEO Gerhard Beukes described Renew’s deal as “a classic frontier investment,” suggesting that there had been numerous “unknowns” that Renew Bahamas was now aware of.

It is unclear if the Christie administration will adjust the agreement.