By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
WITH payouts to former Baha Mar workers set to begin tomorrow, Claims Committee Chairman James Smith yesterday advised employees not to worry if payments did not match the amount listed on their redundancy letters.
Mr Smith urged workers with discrepancies to bring in the letter they received from the resort’s human resources department upon their termination as the committee was prepared to deal with any dispute.
He explained that the amounts listed on those letters were in line with the country’s labour laws on severance pay, but noted that the claims process was not subject to those laws.
“(Workers) became a creditor to Baha Mar with that letter, and could use that to get relief in the courts. In this process, we were trying to use those letters or come as close as we can to those letters even though there is no obligation on our part since it’s not being done under labour legislation. But the idea is to meet as close as possible their expectations.
“We had one or two calls saying that the amounts that they say in the letter seem to be different from the amounts that they are now being offered. If that happens, and it could in some cases as we’re dealing with 2,000 employees, we’re asking them to bring those letters and we’ll see if we can deal with it. The idea is to meet their expectations as best they can or even more,” he said.
Employees with last names beginning with the letters A through F will collect payments on Tuesday, those with last names beginning with the letters G through O will collect their cheques on September 28, and last names beginning with the letters P through Z will collect their cheques on September 29 from the Crystal Palace Training Hotel, Casino Entrance.
The cheques are expected to cover unpaid salaries, accrued vacation pay, severance pay and payments in lieu of notice for more than 2,000 Baha Mar workers made redundant in October last year.
Payments will be made by Perfect Luck Claims Ltd, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) that has been created specifically to purchase claims held by Baha Mar creditors under the terms of the Export-Import Bank of China’s (CEXIM) agreement with the Christie administration.
Mr Christie announced last month that an agreement had been reached with the bank to remobilise the hotel. At the time, he said construction was expected to restart in September.
However, last Thursday, Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said construction should resume within the next two weeks.
Comments
realfreethinker 8 years, 1 month ago
Wait until we see the final bill for this charade. We will pay through our noses for this
ohdrap4 8 years, 1 month ago
don't worry. getting laid off is a good thing, the sandals people are so happy with back to school money.
GrassRoot 8 years, 1 month ago
I always thought it something looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quaks like a duck it must be a duck! no?
He explained that the amounts listed on those letters were in line with the country’s labour laws on severance pay, but noted that the claims process was not subject to those laws
I guess more work or Nolle's for the AG.
I think Mr. Smith mindset will be hard to explain to Bahamians.
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Comrades! During Papa Hubert's flight to China with those 5000 work permits in his luggage, I started blogging why I thought Baha Baha would never become financially sustainable. Little did I even have the smallest clue back then, how it was already on its way to becoming a long drawn-out white elephant siting out at Cable Beach, and back then I also had not even been made aware of that damn extravagance of a 'dock'.
I am damn sure that not even Izmirlian had this white elephant of a financial mess in mind when he started billing his Baha Mar as, "Baha Mar - The Bahamian Riviera". Some damn unacceptable of white elephant of a Cable Beach Rivera, the taxpayers got for their $1.5 Billion Dollars in lands, cash and concessions, and they ain't finished with the extra BILLION DOLLARS this PLP has resigned up to spend on Baha Mar.
Yep, the Chinese hoodwinked Papa Hubert, right into signing those 5000 work permits for Chinese nationals be flown to Nassau Town to take steal paychecks right from pockets 5000 native construction workers.
It's a damn financial mess. Send in the bulldozers and stop with the taxpayers suffering to hemorrhage away any more of they hard-earned moneys.
DDK 8 years, 1 month ago
More pure, unadulterated poppycock. If it weren't so sickening it would be laughable. How can these people get away with all of this? Where IS the "pay-off" money coming from?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
"Perfect 'Luck'", I'm taking a wild guess...
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Comrade ThisIsOurs, there must have been other ways of saying that Baha Mar's workers are now associated with "Perfect Luck." But with patience, red tape and jumping through this PLP Cabinet's Hula BS Hoops, the workers are soon about to discover if it's "Perfect Bad Luck?" or "Perfect Good Luck?
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
Maybe it's "Bahama Island Luck"?
realfreethinker 8 years, 1 month ago
Maybe it " Island luck" ?
TalRussell 8 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Real Thinker, you too are behind what may be happening in the numbers news. Previously, I blogged that could it be possible the resurrection Baha Mar, may have connections to the Chinese in the lead role to assume control over not only Freeport, but Paradise Island, and all things gambling in The Bahamaland - including not only a National Lottery but using The Bahamaland, as a international base for internet gambling the scope the world has yet to experience.
I shall leave the part about assuming all licensing control over The Bahamaland's Natural Resources, from the discussion but only for the time being.
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 1 month ago
"prepared to deal with any dispute. He explained that the amounts listed on those letters were in line with the country’s labour laws on severance pay, but noted that the claims process was not subject to those laws."
We're prepared to deal with all disputes, but don't expect us to pay you in full! Don't get me wrong now, we will try, but just remember we don't have to. Now come on down!
ohdrap4 8 years, 1 month ago
the things attributed to politicians in newspaers make you go hmmm thse days:
-- -- the leaks at the registry are a sing of transparency. -- being laid off is a good thing because you get severance money.
-- speeches about good governance.
i think the speech writers were recruited from the tribune commenters, if you know what i mean.
John 8 years, 1 month ago
"The quote is often used to talk about the complex destructive effect that lying tends to have on life. When people start lying, they have to remember all the details of the lie rather than their true memory in order to keep the lie going when others ask about it. The quote also refers to the fact that lying often has unforeseen consequences
watcher 8 years, 1 month ago
One thing is guaranteed - not a single Chinese worker would have been left unpaid in this fiasco. And now that the Chinese will officially be finishing Baha Mar (goodness knows when.....) in effect Christie is using our tax money to pay for the hordes of Chinese workers who no doubt will be re-hired, rather than using honest Bahamian workers. Shame on the government !!!
sheeprunner12 8 years, 1 month ago
Will Bahamians ever see proof that the Chinese contributed ONE RED CENT to this good PR exercise??????? ................ until that is made public, then we should believe that this is just more of our VAT money being used as election bribes given in broad daylight
John 8 years, 1 month ago
*"A wave of deadly plagues will sweep around the planet, killing over 100 million people and disabling as many more. Acid rains will devastate the rain forests of South America and unleash new viruses that have been contained there for ages. An unknown source of radiation will appear on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean and it will kill the marine life there, leading to worldwide food shortages. Earthquakes in New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, California and Oregon will cripple America’s economic infrastructure and complete collapse will ensue. A huge hole in the ozone layer will open over Europe in 1998, causing skin cancer for millions of people. In 1999, Saddam Hussein will attack Israel with nuclear weapons. The USA will intervene, and World War III will commence in full force. China will defeat a western alliance led by the US. The Chinese will force people to abandon religion and wear the ’Mark of the Beast’ on their hands. In 1999, a child whom Cayce identifies as ’Simeon’ will appear in Israel and call himself Messiah. He will introduce an era of peace. *
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 1 month ago
James Smith, like Baltron "Bag Man" Bethel and the "Wicked Witch" Maynard-Gibson, is now corrupt to the core!
OMG 8 years, 1 month ago
What a joke, If a white person gets a position ahead of a Bahamian it is discrimination but when Bahamians are compensated before foreign workers it is OK. Discrimination is discrimination whichever way you package it. Absolutely bloody disgusting and third world micky mouse politics.
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