Workers employed at the Emerald Bay Resort in Farmers Hill, Exuma are furious that sub-contractors are engaging foreign labourers to perform jobs that can be done by locals.
And even though this is the cry of many of the 600-plus Bahamian workers, management at the resort is stating otherwise.
Jerome Pennerman, an irate Farmers Hill resident employed at the resort, told The Guardian Monday that he is “fed-up” with the resort’s hiring of French Canadians and other expatriates to carry out dry wall, landscaping, painting and electrical work, which can very well be done by Bahamians.
He also claimed that such individuals are working at the resort without permits.
“We see these expats arriving here on the island everyday, but then they are telling us that there is no work available for Bahamians. We feel as if we are slaves or second-class citizens in our own home,” he charged.
Mr. Pennerman said that he is presently carrying out engineering work for a small company contracted by Emerald Bay, but when such work is completed, he would like to continue working in other areas designated.
“We are seeing an influx of French Canadians that are doing dry wall work and Bahamians can do this. If my job is deteriorating and I am looking for something else to do at the resort, then I can’t have anything to do,” he said.
Mr. Pennerman said that such concerns have been expressed to management since the inception of the Emerald Bay Project, but the foreign workers are saying that they are getting permission from Weston Saunders, attached to the Immigration Department.
“We find this hard to believe, because the Immigration Department here (Exuma) say that they have no paper work. Someone needs to tell me why foreigners are coming into Nassau and catching a local flight direct to Exuma. All of these foreign companies are saying that they got permission through Nassau and this is bull—-,” said Mr. Pennerman, who noted that Weston Saunders, at the Department of Immigration, was the name called by most of the foreign workers when it came to receiving assistance in obtaining their work permits.
“These companies are operating in The Bahamas without a business licence,” claimed Mr. Pennerman, who added that he is “very disappointed” that Bahamians are not being treated “fairly” at the resort.
The Guardian made several attempts to reach Weston Saunders, the Out Island Director at the Department of Immigration, but his secretary said that he was in a meeting and up to press time, a call was not returned.
The Guardian spoke to the president and CEO of the Emerald Bay Resort, Kevin Clemente, who said that everyone who works on the Emerald Bay site is “duly permitted as they need to be.”
“I would also point out that of the over 600 workers working at our site, over 80 percent of them are Bahamians and the only percentage that are expatriates, are people coming under management basis. Beyond this, this has been an ongoing complaint that I have heard, and every time this has happened, I have gone back through the appropriate channels. Our people are scrupulous about this kind of thing,” he said.
Mr. Clemente also explained that any sub-contractors present at the Emerald Bay Resort make every effort to utilize Bahamian labourers. The resort’s contractor, according to Mr. Clemente, is Ms. Flour Daniels, who hires sub-contractors, many of which, he said, are Bahamians.
“Some of these sub-contractors are expatriates, but all of these contractors make every effort to hire as many Bahamian workers as possible and the myriad of work that is done on that site is expansive,” he said, adding that workers at the site, whether Bahamian or foreign, are paid commensurate to their duties.
The Guardian contacted the General Contractor at the resort, Ms. Flour Daniels, to inquire about Mr. Pennerman’s claims. She, like Mr. Clemente, stated that Emerald Bay hires sub-contractors, but any foreigners brought in to work at the resort are brought in by sub-contractors and not the Emerald Bay Resort. She also added that Emerald Bay has no control over these sub-contractors hiring foreigners to work for them.
“Each sub-contractor has their own policy to hire local or non-local people, so I suggest that you talk to each sub-contractor individually, as we are not really involved in any of their internal problems,” she said.
Mr Clemente said the proposed five-star resort is “coming along well,” even though it has been very difficult to stay on schedule. He said that the government has been very supportive of the Four Seasons Emerald Bay Resort, despite its difficulty in getting the large number of workers needed to complete the project.
“We have used up every last bit of housing available for employees, but we are pushing forward,” the CEO said. “The partnership has invested an additional $20 million in the site and we are still hoping that by the end of June, early July, that the resort will be completed.”
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
