A day after 600 employees’ jobs were made redundant at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort, Free National Movement (FNM) Senator Dr. Duane Sands said yesterday it is the government’s “paralysis” and “inertia” that has aided in this dilemma.

 On Monday, the resort claimed it conducted a mass redundancy exercise due to the fact that it closed its doors for eight weeks to undergo upgrades and renovations.

 Noting that this was a matter brewing for years, in an interview with The Bahama Journal, Dr. Sands asserted that the government “sat by and idly watched” as more Bahamian families became jobless; compounding on the recent loss of over 2,000 jobs at the beleaguered Baha Mar Resort.

 “The government would’ve known about the industrial unrest and the claims being made by the union, results of the court cases, the appeal, the Privy Council Ruling, and the intent to negotiate an industrial contract,” he said.

 “This drama and circus is an indictment on the ineptitude of the government, because they certainly should have been paying attention,” Dr. Sands said.

 The FNM senator said instead, the government has been distracted by other matters not pertaining to the country’s number one industry, Tourism.

 On Monday, Labour Minister Shane Gibson said the resort’s executives assured that the majority of the Sandals workers affected would be rehired; and on the same was echoed by Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe yesterday.

 However, Dr. Sands suggested those words of assurances should not necessarily be taken seriously.

 “The last person who should be opening his mouth right now is Shane Gibson, because certainly when you look at who dropped the ball, certainly he was an integral part of the government’s ineptitude in this fiasco,” he said.

 “So I believe he is just rattle and chains to hear himself talk,” he added.

 Dr. Sands encouraged Bahamians to stand in support of these workers and their families.

 “Obviously this has been a complicated legal matter that is on its way to court and anyone who wishes to take a position or inform himself of the precedence that has been set and ensure that any statement is made after careful review of the facts,” he said.

 “It doesn’t change when you realize that there are hundreds if not thousands of Bahamians affected by this and our hearts have to go out to them,” he added.

 The resort is closed until October 13.