The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

SOME 150 members of an organising committee established to manage national events on behalf of the government are reportedly demanding payment, stating they were fired but never given termination letters or severance.

The group, which was said to comprise 150 workers and called Local Organisation Committee or LOC Bahamas, sent an open letter to the government on Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained by The Tribune.

Director of Labour Robert Farquharson yesterday confirmed complaints had been registered at the department, but did not wish to comment further on the matter or provide details concerning the claims.

LOC Bahamas was reportedly set up by the Ministry of Finance to coordinate major conferences and sporting events like the 2016 Inter-American Development Bank Conference and the 2017 World Relays.

“Members of LOC Bahamas worked tirelessly and exceedingly long hours to ensure that these events were successful and of a calibre the Bahamian people would all be proud of,” the letter read.

“Please bear in mind that all of these events required working overtime through the week and/or on Saturdays and Sundays for this level of success. It is unfair that after all of the hard work that has been put in, for country, that no one has come forward to offer an explanation of why persons were terminated.”

The group alleges workers were sent home with no termination letters, severance pay, or explanation. It further claimed that several workers were also owed overtime pay for working extended hours and weekends required to execute the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, held from April 27 to May 7 last year. Others have allegedly not been paid for working the 2017 IAAF World Relay or the Commonwealth Youth Games, held July 18 to 23, 2017.

“Since its establishment,” the letter read, “LOC Bahamas worked with several government agencies and private organisations to coordinate and manage participants’ arrival and departure, accommodations, registration and accreditations, transportation, security and pageantry. In addition, LOC Bahamas assisted the National Sports Authority to raise to world-class level the quality of presentation at a number of events.”

It continued: “The members of LOC Bahamas range from groundsmen and janitors to management, many of whom are skilled in their respective professions. Using this range of skilled persons, in addition to the coordination of events, LOC Bahamas has contributed to the recent upgrades made to the facilities, namely the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium, the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre where they assisted with gym flooring, new office design and construction, painting, installation of bleacher seating, landscaping and signage.

“In addition, they assisted with the restoration of the beams at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, monitored the NSA Facebook page, prepared meals and decorated for various meetings held at the stadium, worked at the NSA’s Nutri-Sport Café, outfitted the Department of Road Traffic at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, just to name a few.”

According to the letter, LOC workers were sent home shortly after the Commonwealth Youth Games in July last year.

It claims that some members met with Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Michael Pintard after their dismissal, whom they claim assured the group no jobs would be terminated. Mr Pintard declined comment when contacted yesterday, instead directing the newspaper to the Ministry of Finance.

“We have since met with Department of Labour representatives and we have also sought legal advice to assist us in this matter,” the letter continued.

“Though this appears to be a small group of workers, they have worked events that have made this country proud. What is interesting to note, many of these workers come from the Bain and Grants Town community and their lives were visibly impacted during the year they earned a salary and they saw the fruit of their labour on the television screen and received letters of commendation from international and local agencies.

“And now,” the letter continued, “the converse is true, as persons have lost their personal vehicles, mortgages and other bills are unpaid.”