Bahamian Politics
McCartney: For Worker's Rights
By Branville McCartney, Leader, Democratic National Alliance (DNA)
Aug 15, 2016 - 8:32:49 PM


Today’s headline regarding the redundancy of some 600 employees of the Sandals Cable Beach resort has stirred an eerie feeling of déjà vu for hotel workers around the country. Just over a year ago, thousands of Bahamians found themselves in a similar situation as the highly touted Bahamar property ground to a halt. As in the case of Bahamar, this Christie administration was again, seemingly blindsided by the news of Sandals’ closure and in the wake of that news has offered no real comfort or strategy in dealing with the matter moving forward.

At a time when economic conditions around the country continue to worsen, when unemployment continues to skyrocket, when Bahamian families struggle to afford even the most basic of needs and in the face of yet another seemingly “teachable moment” it would appear however, that this Christie government has learned NOTHING! Instead, the Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Labour have continued to operate with a blatant disregard for our country’s number one industry and the workers who continue to be the fuel that propels that engine forward.

The Democratic National Alliance has watched as labor relations in this country have deteriorated. Instead of fulfilling his mandate to protect the interests of Bahamian workers, this Minister of Labor Shane Gibson has stood idly by as thousands of once gainfully employed Bahamians are forced into the unemployment lines. Sadly, his most recent protestations about the way Sandals has handled its employees ring hollow and empty. While the ongoing tensions between the resort and its employees grabbed headlines, the Minister was radio silent and failed to intervene on behalf of those workers. Similarly, the Minister of tourism, Obie Wilchcombe has also proven himself derelict in his duties, overseeing the termination of thousands of Bahamians from Bahamar and again the redundancies at Sandals without even the hint of a plan to prevent such occurrences from continuing to take place. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

What Hotel workers in this country need now, more than ever, is a government that will work to protect their interests first. An administration committed to not just the growth and development of the current tourism product, but also to creating opportunities for Bahamians to own a part of the country’s number one industry.

At the heart of the DNA strategy on tourism is a people first agenda which places MORE VALUE on Bahamians working on the frontline of the industry. At all points in negotiations with foreign direct investors, the VALUE of our workforce must always be paramount, and the importance of their role in creating successful hotel environments communicated to hoteliers in a way that is mutually beneficial for all parties.

At the heart of the DNA strategy on tourism is an agenda which makes clear the role of unions within our employment landscape and encourages open dialogue and communication between the parties involved to foster a true tripartite relationship.

The DNA’s strategy on tourism will focus on heavily on the encouragement of new and creative sub-industries within the tourism sector to ensure that Bahamians are no longer at the fickle mercies of foreign investors who can pick up and leave if and when they see fit. In a 21st century Bahamas this is the only REAL way forward and the DNA is the only party prepared to execute such a plan.

Branville McCartney
DNA Leader

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