Calls for audit, says Govt needs to take stand
PHILIPSBURG--Workers Institute for Organised Labour (WIFOL) President Theophilus Thompson has accused Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC), the new management of Pelican Resort, of "playing games" and says there are no reasons for the resort to be closed and workers and homeowners to be "shut out."
Thompson told The Daily Herald late last night that the company's excuse of "unforeseen circumstances" as one of its reasons for closure was not clear. He said it was time for government to take a firm stand on this issue.
"The new company has shut out the workers from their jobs even though they [workers, ed.] have won the court proceedings. They are also shutting out the homeowners from their vacation weeks with flimsy excuses and I am concerned about the position of government in allowing the new owners to shut out the employees and now the homeowners to their vacation weeks which they have already paid for," Thompson said.
"The reasons that they are giving are lousy reasons. There is no need for the resort to be closed while they're sending homeowners correspondence that the property will remain open and they will have security guards, maintenance personnel and management working and offices open. This is conflicting."
Thompson said the objectives and "excuses" being given were unclear, "lame," "weak" and "lousy."
"I don't see why the resort has to be closed and why they continue to lock out members of WIFOL and lock out tenants from enjoying their vacation. There is no reason. Nothing is wrong with the rooms. Let the people come to enjoy the vacation and if they have problems, they have to work them out.
"They're saying 'unforeseen.' Come on, be real. They have other reasons which they are not being clear and open about. Their action is speaking louder than their words. They can't just make excuses and say things. They have to prove it. The Labour Department should get an independent financial company to do an audit if they claim they have financial problems."
Thompson said the union was not involved in the talks coordinated by Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams.
He said the union had received two phone calls ? one from Raphael Boasman and the other from a representative of the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) ?enquiring whether the union was open to dialogue with the company.
"I told them 'yes.' WIFOL has always been open to dialogue and to discuss a new collective labour agreement. We are willing to discuss the way forward, not in going backward. The employees are already with the new company, according to the judge's decision, and they are being paid by the new company.
"The new owners have to move forward, and if they have St. Maarten's interest at heart, as investors they should stop playing games and government should take a stand."
Thompson said it was the high season and "St. Maarten doesn't have the space to accommodate Pelican timeshare owners. Other timeshares are full because it's the high season. The resort should remain open and the employees who they have should be back on the job. Government should do something, because they are doing nothing."
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