The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

The Free National Movement (FNM) administration of Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has taken plenty criticism for going out on a limb and purchasing the Grand Lucayan Resort for an estimated $65 million from Cheung Long (Ck) Property Holdings, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa. The alternative would’ve been to stand idly by and watch 400 Grand Bahamians relegated to the unemployment line. The $65 million will be completely funded by the taxpayers of this country. With only the Lighthouse Pointe resort in operation, the FNM’s special purpose vehicle, chaired by Michael Scott, made the savvy decision to trim the resort’s bloated workforce.

I commend the FNM for doubling the original payout proposal of $1.4 million to the 137 line staff, who have agreed to accept the VSEPs. The line staff members will now take home an average of $20,400, which is a bonanza in Freeport’s struggling economy. Initially, each of the line staff members were slated to pocket about just $10,200.

This is the second time an FNM administration has doled out public funds to failed resort employees in Grand Bahama. During the last Ingraham administration, millions in severance packages were given to the displaced workers of the Driftwood Group’s Royal Oasis Resort. To the best of my knowledge, the state has yet to recoup that money from Driftwood.

In all things considered, I believe that the Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers (CUHSAW) and its attorney, Pleasant Bridgewater, as well as Obie Ferguson, of the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA), who currently represents the 90 managers who are leaving the resort, are in no position to play hardball by demanding more money from the Minnis administration. The 90 managers have been offered $2.7 million, which would round out to a hefty $30,000 apiece. Again, considering Freeport’s struggling economy, that’s good money to have.

Ferguson’s counter proposal of over $4million would increase the managers’ severance package by $14,000. As for the CUHSAW and Bridgewater, I believe they are requesting some back payments owed to line staff members who are staying put. Both unions seems to have conveniently forgotten where this money is coming from. Ferguson and Bridgewater and their respective union members have no leverage with which to use against Minnis. In this regard, whatever negotiations they will undertake would be coming from a position of weakness, considering the fact monies being allocated for them is coming out the treasury. Context is important. The two unions must have some perspective.

Where was this hardline stance when the previous owners were treating staff members like doormat for years? The CUHSAW and BHMA should be thankful that the Minnis administration chose to bail out their members. Their members should take whatever is given to them and run with it.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport,

Grand Bahama.

January 15, 2019