Nassau, Bahamas: The Minister of Immigration Branville McCartney reminded companies who employ foreign workers that Bahamians come first in the Bahamas and said that his department will not tolerate businesses owing the government for work permits whilst Bahamians are looking for jobs.
Reports coming to Bahamas Press confirmed that workers at Ernst & Young have become the latest casualties of the economic downturn in the country, as workers were sent home on yesterday.
But tonight we turn our attention to the Bimini Bay Resort, and we hope the ministers responsible will look into this. Today we were on the island of Bimini and what we heard and saw at the Bimini Resort was just disturbing!
Firstly Bimini Bay owes the Bahamas government THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN WORK PERMIT FEES! Secondly the company in the summer of last year TERMINATED ALL THE BAHAMIAN WORKERS IN THE RESTAURANT with a promise to recall them back and reopen it in November 2008. BUT NO, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN AS PROMISED.
But what was disturbing to us today was the kitchen at the resort. Water was off on the island on yesterday and as we understood it the food was prepared for workers in Bimini Bay’s cafeteria with rain water, caught in an old rusty tin container. Bahamas Press inspected the kitchen and what we saw we just could not believe our eyes. The kitchen is in a deplorable state!
Firstly the kitchen has hispanic cooks and servers, NO BAHAMIAN WORKERS ARE EMPLOYED IN THE CAFETERIA. Yes, with all those great island cooks on the island of Bimini looking for a JOB, NOT ONE BAHAMIAN serves in the local CAFETERIA at the resort!
HOW IS IT BAHAMIANS ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY? WHERE IS THE VOICE FOR BAHAMIANS ON BIMINI? THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT!
Then outside the fact that the water was off and the cooks prepared the food with rain water, all in the ceiling of the cafeteria are fly traps hanging down with flies sticking to it. This is enough to give one the ‘belly’. We could not believe our eyes, dead flies are everywhere in a kitchen where people must eat, all in the roof of the cafeteria?
A resident on the island told Bahamas Press how the food was so terrible a few days back, that persons fell sick after eating it.
“They serve you anything in this cafeteria and expect us to eat it. PRISON FOOD IS BETTER THAN WHAT IS SERVED IN HERE,” one workers at the resort told Bahamas Press.
“One day the food was so horrible, mold was seen in the meat, and that is what they are giving people up here to eat?”
For what we witnessed at that resort today, this is a matter that NEEDS AN URGENT HEALTH INSPECTORATE!
Added to this another worker decried the working schedules of the Bahamian staff at the resort, “Bahamians are working two and three days here at the resort whilst the foriegner workers are working seven days up here at Bimini Bay! What is happening to Bahamians on this island is a disgrace! We need help on this island, someone please help us here at Bimini Bay.”
WHERE IS THE VOICE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS OF BIMINI?
We have some words of advise to the residents of Bimini, if they cannot get athorities to set things striaght up there at the Bimini Bay Resort, we invite them to welcome a contingent of Cat Islanders to the island, and we guarantee in TWO WEEKS everything will be BACK TO NORMAL!
What a disgrace, thanks for highlighting this fact, glad to know that you are on top of things in this country.
Kim & Wow, these are trying times, I think Immaculée Ilibagizawas was sent here by inspiration to help some of us to see what is happening. I noted, not many politician attended her sessions when she visited Nassau.
@WOW!
WOW! I just don’t know, but it is not right to feel like a second class citizen in your own country.
Boy Kim, you hit the nail on the head. When I go to some places in Nassau, I feel like a stranger in my own country.
Wisdom I have always tried to not to be prejudice and open minded towards all people, but this experience reminded me of the movie Rwanda. While I was in that shop I felt so out of place, when I was in my car and reversing out of their packing lot, I was just so happy to be out off all that tension. Trust me, if I can help it I will not be going back in there. I really don’t want to see our country become like Rwanda. Right now, it feels like it’s just a matter of time. God help us!
Kim Sands, PLEASE be reminded the wisit of Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan woman who survived the 1994. Aslo, “The Rwanda Crisis” by Gerard Prunier is one of the most comprehensive and clinical accounts of the events that led to the genocide. Prunier, a Belgian historian, explains that the genocide was not a spontaneous eruption of frenzied violence but was carefully planned by a small group belonging to the political, military and economic elite. It was carried out by militias comprised mostly of underprivileged Hutus with a social axe to grind. His rather pessimistic conclusion is that genocide – which requires meticulous organisation – is a modern phenomenon, and one that is here to stay.
Please be not deceive! Hatians are here to stay. They have a social axe to grind and would eventally become the wokers of YOUR British masters. No one can stop this! Bahamians had their season in the Bahamas, we have fast become an International nation. MUST Bahamians have TRUNED away form the LAWS of Almighty God. Thus, Strangers will posess your land. Only God can change what is happerning in theis nation.
The other day, I decided to patronize a Haitian Food Store. When I entered the door I could feel all eyes on me. It was like they were not used to Bahamians shopping in there. Anyway although the atmosphere felt very intense, I still continued to shop with them. When I reach the cash register, a Haitian customer jump right in the front of me and throw her meat on the counter. This is when I said, “excuse me, I believe I was ahead of you.” The lady started talking in their language; I could not understand a word she was saying. The Haitian cashier looked very confused, like she did not know which one of us she should cash up. Well, I help her with her decision. I told her, if you cash her up first, I will be leaving all these things on the counter. I was spending $44.69 with them; the other lady was just buying a small package of meat. The cashier came to her senses very quickly after that and started cashing up my groceries. I say all of this to say it is time for us Bahamians to start looking out for one another. Right now with all these Bahamians out of work and sleeping here and there about the road, it is time for business owners in the country to start looking at hiring Bahamian workers first before giving away our jobs to these foreigners, who only seem to be looking out for themselves.
i am almost 100% correct that this resort hired some mexican imigrants and they where not allowed to leave the area…… also they promised them 800.00 dollars per 2 weeks of work after 1 year… they got paid NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after 3 months some mexican workers wanted to leave and they where told they had to pay 3,000 dollars to be able to leave.
we are talking about 61 mexican construction workers that where de-frauded by promises of payment………. they worked and they where ripped off.
we are talking about 1,000 dollars per month maybe…. the bahamian goverment knows the names of these mexican workers and should take funds from their countries bank account and re-pay these 61 mexican workers that where taken advantage of….
what a shame…..
i do believe that the story will grow with time…. so the faster the goverment pays these 61 people for their work… the faster it will be forgotten.
@media LOL…Media you are something else…
Now see this is a possible fiction Objective, you stating that Hubert has sold his soul to the devil. That cannot be proven, even though we know for a fact he took his last vaction to the mountains of HAITI. Whilst many other world leaders was at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Bahamas Press/Editor
@Genesis Thank God for Bran because we know that HI doesn’t care about the illegals who are taking over!! HI has already sold his soul to the devil during the election campaign!!!
You know, I’ve heard more and more stories of this sort as of late. I’ve heard stories from Andros and Harbour Island. This should be addressed. Many businesses chose to hire foreigners for cheap labour. Economically speaking, this makes sense, but Bahamians everywhere are suffering. We are being forced out slowly but surely.
SORRY! I should have been clearer and said Ron Pinder!
He said Mr. Pinder of the PLP, so I asked who he was talking about, your arrogance is over the top.
See where you have gone, he ment Ron Pinder, know your former MPs, FNM hater canesfines!
BP
Do you mean Marvin Pinder? There were many reasons why his seat was stolen in election court.
Now on this one JOE where we can agree. That “DONKEY GONE SNITCH” too busy doing what he does best, TALKING HIS PARTY NEWS to enemies of the people, rather than having an ear for the residents of BIMINI!
Bahamas Press/Editor
Indeed Mr. McCartney is a hands on person, much like Mr. Pinder of the PLP was. I often wonder why he (Mr. Pinder)was not re-elected. I believe the time has come for all domestic type workers to be subject to a moritorium on work permits. Once their permit has expired, they must go home and not apply again for 3 years. No other domestic work permits should be issued for the time-being. Then,in these hard times, perhaps, out of work Bahamians, will swallow their pride and apply for yard and house work or do their own work, thereby saving money.
I am most impressed with those young men and women who are out on the verges and roadways cleaning up. They are working hard and doing a good job. I give Kudos for the persons in the Ministry of Environment for providing them with these jobs. That Minister is another bright light!.
Over 50,000 people in the States were laid off, or lost their jobs on Thursday past.
As to the Bimini Bay project and the problems being encountered there, I say, where is the Representative? If you care so much for the people you should not wait for BP to point out the grave problems!
I must admit that McCartney seems to be the one “gem” shinning brightly in the FNM cabinet. Too bad that the other dim bulbs around the table are either to incompetent, unintelligent, or scared of HI to follow McCartney’s example.
Recession Deepening…..Circuit City to close 567 remaining US stores
BY: Michael Felberbaum and Vinnee Tong,
AP Business Writers
Friday January 16, 2009, 6:05 pm EST
Circuit City became the largest retailer to fall victim to the expanding financial crisis Friday, announcing it will shut down its remaining 567 U.S. stores at the cost of 34,000 more jobs after failing to sell the business.
The closure of the nation’s second-biggest consumer electronics retailer spells more trouble for the nations malls, and is the latest casualty of an unprecedented pullback in consumer spending that has claimed KB Toys, Mervyns LLC and Linens ‘N Things.
“Very, very sad,” said Alan L. Wurtzel, son of company founder Samuel S. Wurtzel and himself a former chief executive of Circuit City. “I feel particularly badly for the people who are employed or until recently were employed.”
Richmond, Va.-based Circuit City had been seeking a buyer or a deal to refinance its debt, but the hobbled credit market and consumer worries proved insurmountable. Negotiations for an acquisition extended past midnight Thursday before finally falling through, Circuit City lawyer Gregg Galardi said.
Two potential buyers — Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who controls a chain of electronics stores in Latin America, and the Golden Gate Capital private equity firm — considered a shrunken form of the business, retaining as many 350 stores or as few as 180. But Circuit City couldn’t secure the necessary financing or support from vendors.
“This is the only possible path for our company,” acting Chief Executive James A. Marcum said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Huennekens gave final approval to the liquidation plan Friday afternoon. Some employees were notified that they would lose their jobs and certain stores would begin close-out sales as early as Saturday.
“Since my childhood, that’s been where you go to buy electronics — Circuit City,” said 37-year-old Sonya Webb, who was standing outside a store in Chattanooga, Tenn., watching as an employee set a 46-inch Sony television in her car.
Webb, an administrative assistant at a dialysis clinic, said she usually compared Circuit City, Best Buy and Sears when making purchases, but that Circuit City was always her preferred choice. She said she came to buy the TV after she heard that the stores were closing.
Circuit City said liquidating the stores should last through March, after which they will be closed. A small staff will keep working at the corporate office through that process.
The company’s inventory has a retail value of about $1.8 billion, said James Schaye, president and CEO of Hudson Capital Partners, the liquidator. He said sales will begin with up to 30 percent discounts and will be adjusted as the liquidation continues.
“There’s a lot of great deals,” Schaye said. “If you’re competing against someone like Best Buy, we’re going to be at a much better discount than they’re going to be.”
It was unclear what would happen to the company’s 765 retail stores and dealer outlets in Canada. Galardi told a judge there are still bids for the Canadian business.
Circuit City’s brand value was diminished in the 1990s as it faced tougher competition from Best Buy Co., which built bigger stores in better locations.
Wurtzel has previously said Circuit City didn’t take the threat from Best Buy seriously enough and at some points was too focused on short-term profit rather than long-term value.
Circuit City’s failed turnaround efforts included laying off higher-paid employees, opening smaller concept stores, seeking potential buyers, changing management and closing stores. In 2007, it laid off about 3,400 store workers and replaced them with lower-paid employees. Analysts had warned the move could hurt morale and drive away customers.
Marvin Allen, 46, of Cleveland, Tenn., was at a Chattanooga store Friday shopping for a computer desk. He said the closings were bad not only for the people losing jobs, but also for consumers, because competition helps keep prices down. Allen said he and his wife, Teresa, 54, purchased a television from Circuit City just before Christmas.
“It means fewer places left to compare (prices),” she said.
Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter told investors that Circuit City’s demise should “further secure Best Buy’s position as the leader.” Shares of Best Buy Co. rose $2.20, or 8 percent, to $29.34 on Friday.
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