Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa’s General Manager Gary Williams and the resort’s Financial Controller Robert Mirza appeared before Magistrate Carol Misciewiz yesterday to face three charges of intimidation and unlawful termination.
The Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) Assistant Treasurer Santino Higgs, Assistant General Secretary Latoya Archer and current Secretary General Rhonda Huyler are the complainants in this case.
This all stemmed from an ongoing trade dispute at the Cable Beach property, where Sandals officials have failed to recognize the BHMAWU as the official union of Sandals’ employees.
The Sandals employees have been demanding better working conditions at the resort but the hotel’s executives have failed to come to the negotiating table.
Magistrate Misciewiz admonished the men to not take the charges lightly and even though they may not be the direct perpetrators of the offences, the charges are very serious.
The pair was released on $5,000 bail and they have also been ordered to report to the Cable Beach Police Station twice a month.
If found guilty of the charges, they face fine of another $5,000 or one year imprisonment.
The defendants are being represented by Clinton Clark and Jomo Campbell, while the union’s attorneys are Mario Ducille and Krysta Smith.
After the hearing, Trade Union Congress President Obie Ferguson called the day monumental and an historic day in Bahamian history.
“For the very first time in this country, the workers were able to come to the Magistrate’s Court and bring charges against their employers (Sandals).
“They have to face charges for their failure to enter in negations with the union, this is historic and very significant but what it shows is that the multi-national co-operations and transnational co-operations that come to this country do not dictate to the Bahamian people,” Mr. Ferguson said.
According to Mr. Ferguson, Sandals’ employees have still not been told whether they will be paid now once the all inclusive resort temporarily closes its doors.
It was announced last week that the resort will temporarily close between August 15th – October 13th.
Sandals workers present outside the court after the hearing indicated that they were not informed of anything in regards to their current employment status or payment during the temporary closure.
The case resumes on September 26th.
