The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Last week Atlantis announced that they were severing ties with 700 employees.

It was not bad news for some employees because now they could get on with their lives putting Atlantis behind them.

For others, while they saw the writing on the wall, they held on to a glimmer of hope, praying that it would all blow over and they would soon be back to work. They were not prepared. But, the die has been cast, and life must go on. Sadly, with age being a factor for some and not many jobs available, re-employment will be a challenge.

In her summary on Tuesday Audrey Oswell made the following comments: ‘‘This decision does not reflect the work and effort of these individuals. It will reduce the size of many teams throughout the organisation”.

While these comments may have been intended to soften the pain, it does not shorten the depth of the dagger that’s been plunged into the hearts of many. Adding hurt to injury Atlantis is offering to pay severance pay in installments over three months.

Please put your self in my shoe. I have not worked for more than a year; bills are out of control. My job has been discontinued, and now you tell me I have to wait three months for my final paycheck. This is hard. It is not an easy pill to swallow.

Nevertheless, we are thankful for the employees that are still employed and are praying for the continued success of the company.

By the way, for clarification’s sake. With so many Bahamian managers having been fired can Ms Oswell please explain why ex-pat restaurant managers are working and what they are doing that Bahamians can’t do?

There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on businesses and society at large. But it is also a time when one must temper business with mercy.

While 700 persons have been sent home, anywhere between three and five thousand are being impacted.

Shifting gears, in recent times, Minister Dames and commissioner Paul Rolle touted the fact that crime is down. And they may be right. It might be down, but is it under control? Almost every other week, several young persons are gunned down in the streets. Crime might be down, but it is not under control. Four young men murdered at one time in broad daylight and you say what?

The talk is that the majority of killings are gang-related, and they are killing each other stay out of their way, and you’re safe. Fine but what about those children that died by bullets not intended for them? How come they weren’t safe?

But there’s still hope because while some of our young men are snared by the glitter and gore of the crime culture. There are much more than them who are trying to live peaceful and respectful lives.

Unfortunately for some of them, that has changed their ways and are now productive citizens its been a challenge because negative, jealous people are always trying to bring them down.

Case in point, there is a young entrepreneur who made some youthful mistakes now owns a successful business on Arawak Cay is finding it challenging to operate duress free and not be pressured by people who are green-eyed of the way he has changed and how successful he has become.

“You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth.” Job 13:36

It is instances such as this that causes reformed young people to backslide and revert to their former lifestyle. Fortunately, this young man has strong family ties and a lot of people’s support. He is staying strong.

“Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” Psalms 25:11.

We do not know how long COVID-19 is going to be around. But we do know that we as a society have to help love and protect each other to the best of our ability. And that does not mean just wearing a mask and social distancing.

An excellent place to start is with our young men. Have we given any thoughts as to why so many of them turn to a life of crime? Could economic opportunities be one of the reasons? Lack of jobs and low-paying jobs. Are there reasons why our boys are turning to a life of crime? Are we giving the work to the foreigner because we don’t want to pay our young men what the job is worth?

One might ask what does this have to do with crime. “Ok, we turn away our qualified young man who has utility bills and a family to maintain. However, pay the immigrant who is already a burden on the economy with no utility bills as much as $50-$100 less than the job is worth. What do you think our young man is going to do?

He has a hungry baby to feed.

Petty crimes like purse snatching, housebreaking, shoplifting, and yes, prostitution are, for the most part, crimes of need. Last year before the beverage merchants shut down the recycling bottle collection on any given day, you could see scores of young men and women who did not want to beg or steal on the streets collecting bottles.

Today, unfortunately, some of the same persons are still on the street doing whatever they can to survive. You see them.

We have a generation to save, we can not lay down and play dead while COVID-19 runs amok throughout the nation. Do the right thing, help to fight crime. Pay our young men what the job is worth.

God bless the Bahamas.

ANTHONY PRATT

Nassau,

May 26, 2021.