The Royal Bank of Canada is being sued for alleged discrimination against its former employee Leslie Moss, 38, whose services were terminated February. A writ was filed in the Supreme Court on May 16, 2003, and Royal Bank was served notice on July 12.
"I am suing them on the principle that they have deceived me when they brought me back from Canada to (resume) work in The Bahamas, and they terminated me without explanation," an irate Mr. Moss told The Guardian over the weekend.
He produced court documents as proof of the lawsuit, and other correspondence to the Minister of Labour, the Director of Labour claiming victimisation, and his letter of termination dated Feb. 13, 2003 from the RBC Dominion Securities (Global) Ltd., a member of the Royal Bank of Canada Financial Group.
He further claimed that when employers want to deny Bahamians their rights, they bring productivity into question.
"They insulted my honour and reputation, which is at stake," he said, noting that he is owed a "substantial amount" of money from RBC.
Mr. Moss is a Bahamian who has worked for RBC in New Providence since 1995. He was transferred to Canada in 1998 for three years on a developmental assignment. The plan was for him to go on to South America for another three years and return home to take up a senior position, but that never materialised. The South American offices closed down, hence, he, his wife and son (born in Canada) decided to remain in Canada.
Subsequently, Mr. Moss and his family returned to New Providence in September 2000 and he continued work at RBC until his termination.
"I am fighting for my son. I am fighting for every Bahamian child's future," he said.
He added that he would love to be reinstated, but he has since been replaced with a Canadian who took over his accounts.
Accepting that he is probably "finished" in the financial services industry, Mr. Moss said what matters now is his integrity.
He also stated that for every job that he has applied for within the past four months, an expatriate has been hired.
In a letter to the editor of The Bahama Journal dated June 1, 2003, headlined: "Bahamianisation is Dead", Mr. Moss argued that foreign banks operating here know and manipulate the system very well.
"They inevitably tell the Department of Labour that no suitable Bahamians were found or that they were either unavailable due to current employment."
Asked whether he is prejudiced or a racist, Mr. Moss said, "I am prejudiced against those who are prejudice."
Mr. Moss' r�sum� show that he is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, and capable in French, has strong computer literacy and strong offshore background.
He has received training at the Institute of Canadian Bankers, obtained a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana Baptist University, and earned a diploma from the Canadian Securities Institute.
He was employed at Lloyds Bank International as a senior accountant executive, accountant manager at Royal Bank of Canada Trust Company, and upon his termination served as investment advisor at RBC Dominion Securities (Global) Ltd., Bahamas.
His career objective is to "secure a position at the senior level within the international financial services sector where my leadership, relationship management, marketing and language skills will be fully challenged and rewarded."
By Lindsay Thompson, The Nassau Guardian
