The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Freeport News has let go 12 workers as part of a downsizing exercise, reducing the staff complement to six in Grand Bahama. Fred Stirrup, general manager, confirmed the layoffs, saying they were necessary because the newspaper’s operations were compromised, initially by Hurricane Dorian and now by the COVID-19 crisis.

He indicated the newspaper was not generating any revenue because the paper, which was being printed at the Nassau Guardian after the storm damaged its printing press in Freeport, could not be flown to Grand Bahama because the airlines are no longer running. “It’s a double jeopardy – first Hurricane Dorian compromised the business in Freeport where we had four-and-a-half feet of water...and our (printing) press was compromised,” he explained.

After the storm, the newspaper moved to the RND Plaza complex, and staff started printing the paper at the Nassau Guardian, its sister company in New Providence. Mr Stirrup said the coronavirus pandemic has affected companies all over the world.

“The coronavirus came and caused the airlines to stop running, so there is no flight to bring the paper in (to Grand Bahama) and we have not been able to generate any revenue,” he explained.

“The company was forced to downsize as other companies are doing all over the world.”

He noted the newspaper’s editorial department is still functioning and using social media and online avenues.