By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
SUSHI Rokkan co-owner Michael Scott is standing firm against the backlash his restaurant has received to its mandatory vaccine position for employees, telling The Tribune “if they feel that strongly about it, someone should sue me”.
The restaurant in Old Fort Bay Town Centre has mandated that employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine by June 30 or they may face reassignment or termination unless there is a valid medical reason.
A trade union leader has compared forcing Bahamian workers to take the vaccine as a condition of their continued employment to “taking us back to 1942” and the Burma Road riots.
“We have a constitution, you know,” Obie Ferguson, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) president, said earlier this week. “That’s a supreme authority in this country. I know some people believe they can treat people any old way and because they don’t have the means to sue them they get away with it. No, it’s illegal, it’s unconstitutional. The constitution of this country does not provide any mechanism for an employer to vaccinate a worker outside of their agreement.”
When contacted yesterday, Mr Scott hit back at the backlash.
“Well, if they feel that strongly about it someone should sue me, but you know that’s not likely to happen because it’s just a case of people you know, running their mouths and as far as I’m concerned what I’m doing is in the public interest... protecting the public,” said Mr Scott.
“If you read the Health and Safety of Work Act Sections 4, 5, and 7 it is clear to even the most innocent of human beings that there is the duty on the part of employers to protect employees in the workplace as well as members of the public visiting that place. So, I don’t understand what the fuss is all about. It should be welcomed by the public. I should not be the butt of sarcasm or controversy or being publicly abused this way.
“Quite frankly, people have threatened to boycott the restaurant but I can tell you for every idiot that boycotts the restaurant, there are two intelligent people (that have) become customers.”
When asked about an update about the restaurant’s new vaccine policy, he said “things are going ahead”. He preferred not to give the figures on how many workers have indicated they have been vaccinated.
“The fact of the matter is that most people want to be vaccinated maybe except those who may (have) allergies to vaccines,” he said.
Last week, Mr Scott told Tribune Business he had “smoothed out” any concerns at a recent staff meeting with Sushi Rokkan’s 30-40 workers, making it clear “we’re not going to force” people to take the COVID-19 vaccine if their doctor advises against it while warning that they should “find another job” if other excuses are invoked.
Director of Labour John Pinder has said it is not legal to mandate people get vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of continued employment.
Comments
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
Bahamians know lots and lots of people, family, friends in the USA and Canada. I would encourage everyone to share this story with contacts abroad and allow them to make up their own minds whether they wish to visit this man's "establishment" when/if they visit here and to share the story with their friends and contacts. I'm sending it out right now.
If we're lucky maybe the "well known" Q.C. may help the cause of freedom here and bring something before the courts. Do any Haitians work there? If so, he may jump into gear. If not, then dog eat our lunch.
As Bahamian slaves, if the massa say we must ingest Baygon or starve to death, well then that's the choice we have. U.N., Caricom, etc., nobody will help us. Im not saying the vaccine is Baygon, I'm just saying it wouldn't matter if it was. Suck it up or get off the plantation.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
I may not sue you Mr. Jim Crow, but I will never be on your plantation. Not as a slave and never as a customer. Why the arrogance and the condescending attitude?Hey dude, if you are so convinced that getting the vaccine is the right and proper thing for your staff, then garner their confidence and convince them. It’s not like these vaccines are a pure and proven science, dude. Your attitude sucks!
TalRussell 3 years, 6 months ago
You're either on the job with a valid, current vaccination certificate or you're out of paycheques. There is NOT a valid medical reason that can justify, why an individual without vaccination should be employed around any people contact workplace, even more so if physically around the food preparation and serving business full..., stop. period.
My advice leaves Michael and Sush to be, and to exert your energy out looking for work from hommer, or start your own paycheques opportunity, yes?
FreeUs242 3 years, 6 months ago
Yes🙂
John 3 years, 6 months ago
Remember these vaccines are suppressants and NOT cures. So my personal opinion is they may create more of a problem in the workplace than a solution. Someone can be raging with the virus but because their symptoms are suppressed, they are presumed to be healthy and A ‘OK’. So during an 8 hour shift they come in contact with dozens of people. So guess what happens? And don’t deny it. Some of the experts are now admitting that the vaccines are contributing to some of the current surges. I may not be medically correct in explaining but it is something to do with ‘markers’ the virus leaves in someone’s body once they have been either infected or exposed to the virus. These ‘markers’ tend to adjust to a new strain so a person does not get the virus a second time. But because this does not happen with someone who has the vaccine (they only have the markers that are in the vaccine) then they continue to transmit the virus and are also susceptible to contracting new strains. And that is why they tell you that they don’t know how long the vaccines will be effective in your body or if they will guard against new strains. And, in fact, at least one of the vaccine manufacturers is suggesting that a third dose may be necessary
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
A third dose???? That sounds like a conspiracy theory. You sure you're not just making that up??? LOL
rosiepi 3 years, 6 months ago
The question should be how many folks including tourists would prefer to patronize establishments knowing that their staff, the servers, and chefs have been vaccinated? . Who suffers a loss in wages when a business is closed because of an outbreak? Who suffers from the loss of reputation? Not just the owner but all the staff. Who wants to go to a hospital or clinic or grocery store where owners/workers are not serious enough about Covid to get vaccinated? Or send their loved ones to care homes in which their caregivers are not vaccinated? This talk of plantations and slavery is poppycock.
Reality bites deal with that.
Sickened 3 years, 6 months ago
As per your first sentence... I'm fairly positive that no medical doctor has gone on record saying that getting the vaccine will stop a person from contracting the virus or transmitting it to another person. The vaccines currently out MAY only protect the person who receives the vaccine from having severe symptoms.
GodSpeed 3 years, 6 months ago
All of the employees should pool their resources get a lawyer and sue him as a group, bet he'd back down then.
ohdrap4 3 years, 6 months ago
These are folks who make between 200 to 400 per week.
It is just cheaper to leave the job. Rather than pay lawyers fees.
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
Exactly correct. When i visit Thailand, i get vaccinated for yellow fever because i dont want to get sick from yellow fever. I have never called up the King of Thailand and said he has to vaccinate his entire population so that i can come visit. How would that help anyway? The disease is in the environment, the leaves, the water, the air. If im not vaccinated, i may get sick from it. If everyone in Thailand gets vaccinated then they are safe, but me the fool coming in unvaccinated may get it. So, same here, if tourists come in unvaccinated they may get Covid from surfaces or shopping cart handles or anything. If they are vaccinated then they are safe.
If the vaccine does not keep them safe, then why are they taking it? They dont trust the vaccine to protect them? Do they trust any vaccines or do Scott and his ilk not believe that vaccines work?
If Mr Scott gets a cough, do i need to drink cough syrup? If i do, will his throat feel better?
Bobsyeruncle 3 years, 6 months ago
Isn't it a requirement for ALL restaurant and food handling employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom ? Also, what about the requirement to wear hair nets, gloves etc. while prepping food ? Isn't this to protect customers, or should all the customers search their food for stray hairs, COVID virus, bacteria, and god knows what else, before they actually eat?
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
So you obviously think the washing of hands, wearing of hair nets, gloves, etc. by restaurant employees poses the same degree of unknown potential health risk as these warped speed developed vaccines. And I suppose you also think big pharma, governments and medical experts have the right to do with and do to your body whatever they think fit against your own wishes. But of course that's your own personal thinking and decision-making; certainly not mine and I suspect not many others.
Frankly, rather than cleverness, you all too transparently exude disingenuousness of the worst possible kind. By the way, all of the restaurant food safety measures you speak of were long ago approved by many civilized societies through their normal democratic processes; they were not (and should never be) forced on the people by the likes of tyrannical dictators.
tetelestai 3 years, 6 months ago
Your second paragraph is wrong, easily refuted by even the slightest bit of research.
Everything else: well done.
TigerB 3 years, 6 months ago
Seem the man has put out a challenge,.. sue him.. in essence put up or shut up. Not sure what the issues is. We Bahamians don't own nuttin. All we have to do if we don't want to get vaccinate is to leave. Obie Ferguson is a lawyer, lets see what he will do.
WETHEPEOPLE 3 years, 6 months ago
Thats the arrogance of the rich, institute his demands on the poor. Vaccination is a choice buddy, you dont get to decide what someonelse puts in their body. GTFOU with that bs.
Bonefishpete 3 years, 6 months ago
Just today the Government said that US tourists that are vaccinated need no covid test to enter the country. We are quickly becoming a world of two classes of people. Freedom to move about will require showing "papers" soon.
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
No, it requires showing papers now; you have to either show your vaccinated papers or your pcr papers. They will start raising the price of a pcr test (worldwide) by September (claiming a shortage of pcr kits has driven up demand) as a further lever to "encourage" people to be vaccinated. Then the rule will come down in November that starting Jan 1st only vaccination proof will allow you to travel outside of your island, state, province, or country. Live in Toronto and need to go to Vacouver? Too bad, you simply cannot go. Live in Pensacola and need to go to Mobile? Too bad. Live in Andros and need to go to Nassau? Too bad.
Only illegal immigrants worldwide will he exempted from travel restrictions, as they are now on the Mexican border and the English Channel. No pcr for those folks either before or after they cross. Just free bus rides, housing, food, medical care, and school for their kids, just like they get here. Dont worry though, there will be no shortage of dancers and revelers at this year's "Independence" celebrations. Government could shoot these people's children in the forehead with a 44 magnum and they would still come out and dance.
The very best slaves that TV can buy.
TalRussell 3 years, 6 months ago
Difficult dismiss that was the most former US republican president who teamed up with the My Pillow Guy to first introduce all the wacko medical science references posted on these hereto Tribune blogs, yes?
JokeyJack 3 years, 6 months ago
Yeah Tal, it's "wacko" that the death count all across Africa (where HCQ is available over the counter) is very very low. You know HCQ, the 50+ year malaria drug that is suddenly outlawed in the west?
Is there a news cover-up of a black genocide by Covid all over Africa? Or is there a news out in the open white genocide all over Europe and the west? Either way people have 100% bought the story that HCQ is dangerous.
If they want to killl everybody, why not just put on the news that water is dangerous and promotes the spread of Covid? Then everyone will voluntarily thirst to death to ensure they dont die of Covid. Better to die of thirst right? LOL.
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
The most worrisome aspect of these new mRNA vaccines is their unknown long term effects, both intended and unintended. There is a strong possibility COVID-19 was developed within the context of the population control now clearly being sought by a growing global partnership between deep state actors, big pharma and the more sinister elements of the billionaire class, all of whom are involved in bio-tech research for evil reasons.
John 3 years, 6 months ago
ARE THESE VACCINES CREATING SUPER SPREADERS?
Remember these vaccines are suppressants and NOT cures. So my personal opinion is they may create more of a problem in the workplace than a solution. Someone can be raging with the virus but because their symptoms are suppressed, they are presumed to be healthy and A ‘OK’. So during an 8 hour shift they come in contact with dozens of people. So guess what happens? And don’t deny it. Some of the experts are now admitting that the vaccines are contributing to some of the current surges. I may not be medically correct in explaining but it is something to do with ‘markers’ the virus leaves in someone’s body once they have been either infected or exposed to the virus. These ‘markers’ tend to adjust to a new strain so a person does not get the virus a second time. But because this does not happen with someone who has the vaccine (they only have the markers that are in the vaccine) then they continue to transmit the virus and are also susceptible to contracting new strains. And that is why they tell you that they don’t know how long the vaccines will be effective in your body or if they will guard against new strains. And, in fact, at least one of the vaccine manufacturers is suggesting that a third dose may be necessary. So you have the flu. You need to go to work. So you take a flu suppressant that stops the cough and runny nose. But you still have the flu. The Dr. says drink lots of fluids and get plenty rest.
SP 3 years, 6 months ago
Little Scott is above the PM and the law. Typical, arrogant, big mouth, FNM oligarch!
jamesg30 3 years, 6 months ago
The lack of scientific knowledge buried in many of these posts is alarming. Aside from a few, the se vaccine experts are ignorant. Vaccines are a suppressants? No they are not. The activate Phaogocytes, Macrophages, T-cells and the list goes on. Most of you are nuts. Get the shot.
thephoenix562 3 years, 6 months ago
OH my! I totally agree.
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
But massa I jus see big bad snake in dat field right o' yonder. Oh pleeezzz dunna ya make me pic da crop in dat place o' yonder.
themessenger 3 years, 6 months ago
Much to do about nothing, more noise in the market place. All Scott has to do, and be perfectly within his rights, is to make it mandatory that each of his staff members provide a negative Covid test result every week, at their expense naturally, if they wish to enter his establishment to work. After a few weeks of paying for testing a vaccine might look a much better option. Nothing illegal about that as it’s exactly what the government expects from you to enter the country. Obie Ferguson and Wayne Monroe need to think about that.
tribanon 3 years, 6 months ago
From the standpoint of all the employees concerned who do not wish to be vaccinated for whatever reason, Scott's restaurant can only do what it is legally able to do. And both Scott's restaurant and Minnis can only do what the Constitution allows each of them to do.
Emilio26 3 years, 6 months ago
Tribanon at the end of the day Mr. Scott is looking out for the health and safety of his employees and customers.
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