The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Attorneys for China Construction America (CCA) yesterday denied that a Bahamian contractor’s decision to launch legal action against it over alleged Baha Mar debts sparked the firing of his wife that same day.

Sean Moree, the attorney for Baha Mar’s main contractor, confirmed in a statement to Tribune Business that his client had indeed terminated the wife of Franklyn Robinson, the only local contractor known to have initiated legal action over non-payment.

However, the McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes attorney and partner vehemently denied the initiation of legal action by the Ben Moore Toote Development Company’s principal had anything to do with his wife’s dismissal.

Mr Moree added that Mrs Robinson’s termination occurred in April 2016, some three months after Mr Robinson and Ben Moore Toote filed their writ.

“The writ filed by Ben Toote was filed on the 26 January, 2016,” he told this newspaper via e-mail, also attaching a copy of the document.

“Mrs Robinson was let go in late April, 2016. As can be seen, some three months elapsed between the filing of the writ and the termination of Mrs Robinson.”

Mr Moree declined to explain, though, why Mrs Robinson, a Chinese national who was employed by CCA as an accountant, was terminated.

“In deference to Mrs Robinson, and in keeping with company policy, CCA does not disclose the reasons for employees’ terminations,” the attorney added.

“Mrs Robinson has made no claims against CCA regarding her termination, and CCA wishes her the best in her future endeavours. As the action commenced by Ben Toote is currently extant [live], we have no comment, other than we look forward to actively defending the claim.”

Mr Robinson, in an interview with Tribune Business that was published yesterday (Thursday), alleged that he and his wife had been left “heartbroken” when she was fired the same day as Ben Moore Toote’s writ was served.

““The day that they were served with the writ, they fired her,” he told this newspaper. “The same day.

“She received a notice of dismissal from their lawyers; there was not engagement with the human resources department. It was so embarrassing, and she was very distressed with the action they took. They came to get her, and had security escort her off the premises. No explanation, no nothing. Just get out. It was heartbreaking. She’s very hurt.”

Mr Robinson said his wife came to the Bahamas initially to work on the Airport Gateway roads project, before being transferred to CCA for Baha Mar and then The Pointe project at the British Colonial Hilton.

Following Ben Moore Toote’s shut down after the non-Baha Mar payment, Mr Robinson said he and his wife had been surviving on her salary until her dismissal.

Mr Robinson and his company are suing CCA for “breach of contract”, due to it having allegedly paid just 3 per cent of an agreed $178,862 for cleaning services at the Baha Mar project site.

Ben Moore Toote, which at its peak employed some 140 persons, has been forced to cease business, and Mr Robinson said CCA had failed to deliver on numerous promises that payment would be forthcoming.

However, in its April 12, 2016, defence to his claim, CCA challenged both the contract sum and whether Ben Moore Toote Development Company delivered the required standard and quality of work.