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Melissa K. F. Cochrane, a long-serving Producer at ABS Television/Radio, has resigned from her post, alleging that she was forced out due to what she describes as a prolonged campaign of mistreatment, breaches of contract, and a hostile work environment at the state broadcaster.
In a resignation letter addressed to ABS General Manager Mrs. Erna-Mae Brathwaite and dated July 11, 2025, Cochrane announced her immediate departure, declaring that her exit should be regarded as a case of constructive dismissal.
Cochrane’s letter outlines a series of incidents over her tenure, which, she claims, amounted to a repudiation of the employment contract. Among her complaints were:
– Lack of Training: She said she was assigned duties as an On-Air Host and Producer in 2020 without receiving adequate training. Formal training only came four years later, after she had already faced criticism for alleged underperformance.
– Withheld Benefits: Despite being entitled to an On-Air Clothing Allowance, Cochrane says she never received it, forcing her to personally cover work-related expenses that others in similar roles had covered.
– Professional Isolation: She claims management engaged in character assassination, portraying her as unprofessional and unreliable, even during periods when she was balancing work with personal medical trauma.
The resignation also details incidents of alleged harassment and discrimination, including:
– Pregnancy Loss & Stress: Cochrane linked a miscarriage in 2022 to chronic workplace stress, stating management provided no support during her ordeal.
– Pregnancy Discrimination: In 2023, she claims she was denied reasonable accommodations while pregnant, subjected to performance evaluations for time taken on medical leave, and forced into physically demanding tasks.
– Gaslighting and Harassment: She cited repeated belittlement, shifting narratives, and hostile communication as part of a wider pattern of psychological abuse.
Cochrane describes a series of workplace conflicts that culminated in what she termed the “last straw” — accusations during her May 27, 2025, performance evaluation that she had lied about technical difficulties affecting broadcasts. She said the claim was false and contradicted by ABS’s technical team.
A month later, on June 27, she was again threatened with disciplinary action for circumstances beyond her control. At that point, she said, it was clear that the relationship of “mutual trust and confidence” had been irreparably broken.
Other incidents cited in her resignation included:
– The mischaracterization of medical leave as “job abandonment.”
– Hostile emails accusing her of “slack” performance.
– Management ignored or dismissed her creative contributions, including talent show and radio program proposals.
– Public shaming after she raised workplace safety concerns about flooding at ABS’s entrance on social media.
Cochrane described her treatment as deliberate “entrapment and psychological manipulation” disguised as administrative enforcement.
Declaring that she considers herself constructively dismissed, Cochrane said she reserves the right to pursue remedies under labour law. She also requested immediate payment of her final salary and all outstanding entitlements.
Her resignation letter concludes: “These incidents, individually serious and collectively overwhelming, constituted a sustained course of conduct that breached the implied term of mutual trust and confidence, which is fundamental to the employment contract.”
Cochrane’s departure adds to ongoing public scrutiny of workplace practices within the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS).
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We really should get rid of the GM..
She seems to be the issue concerning all these problems the nation station is having.
Gm..please do us a favor and stop acting like a dragon lady!
Also you seem to be looking rather unsightly these days..
Is it because your nasty,vile ways are coming through your pores.👀🫣🤔
Elisha George and Samantha Simon, wash your hands and wait for me.
You will soon learn that you came off the frying pan and fell in the fire.
If Belzebob has been running away from Satan wht are you running into hell to sip coffee with him.
Enjoy the fire!!!!!!!!!
Anna now me tell Melissa resign! I am elated for her departure and new beginnings. Melissa will move on and have a bright future ahead of her! It’s about time the witch resigns. All the stories aired on ABS are biased and in favor of the Government in power. Zero partiality and opportunities are given once your beliefs do not align with Erna Mae ‘s. Btw. She nah teef enough money yet? Give up the damn Job already. Abs broadcasters look a mess and are left to provide their own makeup n wardrobe daily! The station is functioning as if it’s 1987!! Get rid of Erna mae. ABS has not n will not improve until she is gone!!
I am reminded of the lyrics of one of Buju Banton’s songs when I read this.
It’s not an easy Road
And many see the glamor & glitter
And them think a bed of rose
Who feels it knows
Lord help me sustain the blows
I cry, it’s not an easy Road.
The general manager at Abs has a reputation that precedes her…not surprised at all. Some a dem
Employees need to sue Mrs Raisin Bran
I have heard the most horrible things about that place. Truly sorry for the employees, and you need not ask if these kinds of things are true. In Antigua, accusations like these, are mostlikely the truth.
You hear this about every government department. This is why it is highly stupid for the government to invest in business in any manner that gives the government any substantial say/control of that company. I say this in good-faith.
The political culture is not the kind in which it is likely that entities would be governed/controlled/managed properly, if government officials and government selected officials are in charge. It would be stupid to assume good would result from any such situation.
From what I heard about that place, Ms. Mellissa made the right decision to quit and need to promptly file suit against this government administration. I hope actions like these would bring about innovation, training and competent heads. Maybe one day this will happen.
It’s about time someone makes an example out of and Melissa is just the person to do it. Too many times companies complain about under productivity when the same companies are victimizing their GOOD employees who would have enhanced them by their production, forcing their hand to resign. Then you’re left with “YES” ppl otherwise known as puppets! Those same yes people who don’t know their head from their tails, devaluation the company and its abilities as they’re the so called “best” they have to offer just cuz they cant or wont go against their leader who has a one up.on them! Melissa was clearly no puppet, beauty met brains n experience exactlywhat ABS needed but it was the Achilles heel for the Brait!! She couldnt stand to see greatness!!
Isn’t she past pension age like twice already???? What is she still doing there? The reputation of the company is worsening every second she remains there! I’ve heard the horror story n just a handful brave enough to speak out. I hope Mrs. Cochrane gets her just reward as this situation sounds very bad!
@my way of helping. I have heard the most horrible things about you, most likely true.
How many more of these resignations of victimization are we gonna hear about before we get to the root cause of them? There’s only one common denominator in all of this and it starts with a BRAT!
@My Way of Helping
The same can be said about you too
Is this the same … who used to work at Scotia Bank,? Didn’t the late Mighty Swallow referred to her as a witch. I this is she what do you expect, confusion must reign
It’s really something… just from listening to this station alone, I’ve seen all my favorite presenters disappear Tania, Patrice, Briana, Andrena, and now Melissa all seemingly pushed out one by one. And at the center of it all? The same person: the wicked witch herself,Dutty Ich….
Some of these young women were treated horribly. It’s alleged that they’re still owed payments for jobs they already completed ….. This has been going on for years.
How much longer should the staff suffer in silence? Enough is enough. People deserve to be paid for their work and treated with basic respect.
… NEEDS TO GO!!!! T…. Melissa does not deserve that kind of treatment she is too much of a sweet girl
THERE IS ONE COMMON DENOMINATOR IN ALL THIS
I empathize with this Ms. Cochrane. Working in a toxic environment is not easy. Additionally, it is worst when the injustice is seen and coworkers along with the shop steward do not lend a voice of support because of fear and the idea that the situation is not affecting them so they have nothing to say…..
There are many more establishments, especially statutory boards, facing a similar fate. Persons are overlooked & mistreated because they are not on the favorite list, while others who have no proper work ethics but belong to the same clique are enjoying promotions etc…..
SPEAKING IN GENERAL TERMS, I HAVE NO SYMPATHY, NONE WHATSOEVER FOR ANY EMPLOYER/SUPERVISOR WHO DARES TO THINK THEY CAN PUSH CERTAIN EMPLOYEES AROUND (certain employees, bcz as the saying goes:jumby know who fu frighten), VIA THE SO-CALLED VERBAL ABUSE (so-called bcz it can’t stick), OR MALICIOUSLY WITHHOLDING MONIES RIGHTFULLY DUE TO THE EMPLOYEE, USING SUCH VULGAR TACTICS AS CALLING CERTAIN EMPLOYEES THE B-WORD ON THE JOB, FAULT FINDING OVER HUMAN ERRORS, DECEPTIVELY SAYING THAT THE EMPLOYEE IS UNDERPERFORMING SIMPLY BCZ THE EMPLOYEE REFUSES TO CONFORM TO THEIR DIABOLIC WAYS, ALTHOUGH THE CONSISTENT HIGH QUALITY OF THE EMPLOYEE’S WORK CLEARLY SHOWS THE OPPOSITE , ACTING AS THO THEY CAN RUN THE WORLD BY THEYSELF, BUT PUT THEM TO PERFORM UR JOB DAY IN DAY OUT & THEY WOULD FAIL MISERABLY! THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEAKING TO AN EMPLOYEE IN A MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL MANNER ABOUT JOB PERFORMANCE, THAT IS A CONNIVING, WICKED EMPLOYER/SUPERVISOR WHO IS BOUND TO FALL ON THEIR OWN SWORD SOONER OR LATER, THAT THEY ARE NOW WIELDING TO THEIR SATANIC DELIGHT, IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME!
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