Former Jolly Beach Resort workers struggle as they await severance promised weeks ago

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Jolly Beach in October 2022 before recent upgrades

Former Jolly Beach Resort (JBR)workers are concerned and upset that they have not received their severance payments, promised by Prime Minister Gaston Browne more than three weeks ago.

The workers have been waiting for their severance and other entitlements for over two years now. And although the Antigua and Barbuda Worker’s Union (ABWU) has collaborated with them to ensure their payout tallies are correct, no one has been issued a cheque, to date.

Responding to a question from MP Jamale Pringle, during a recent sitting of Parliament, Browne claimed the severance money is in an escrow account; and it is left to the Administrator of the property to determine when those funds will be disbursed, he said.

Meanwhile, a man called in to a radio programme over the weekend, complaining that he and the former employees continue to struggle. Some of them have lost their vehicles or homes; some are owing rent; and others are unable to support their families, he says.

The disgruntled resident says the Browne Administration should save itself the embarrassment and pay up the severance and gratuities – or he, along with others, is willing to chain himself to the gates of the property before the hotel can be opened again.

The former employee is asking whether there is actually any money being held in escrow, as is alleged by PM Browne.

Meanwhile, Alex Browne – the United Progressive Party Candidate for St. Phillip’s North and a former Jolly Beach worker, himself – is also wondering what is taking so long for the money to be released from escrow.

But, in the meantime, he is extending appreciation to the Union for its hard work in assisting workers to verify what is owed to them.

The former employees are owed more than $7 million, reportedly. The hotel was forced to close its doors in March 2020 as result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated its existing financial woes.

The St. James’s Club Antigua Limited is now conducting repairs on the hotel with a view to reopening it by mid-December.

SOURCE: REAL News

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17 COMMENTS

  1. I read the first sentence and scroll through in a hurry because I knew this had to be a “REALNEWS’ story.

  2. This is so sad. When is Gaston going to pay after the election date call? Stop playing with the minds of these poor people.

    • What playing with minds? Every f*cking thing is politics … how the PM can make the people pay before the money is ready to be paid….. y’all act like y’all don’t know how nothing works…… even if the money is there and the amount has been established – there still has to set up a company to deal with the actual accounting and make the payments- people sometimes
      The efforts to get to this place goes totally unnoticed.

      • LOL. Ok Mr. Accountant. Even if you knew what the hell you were talking about (which obviously you don’t) why did Hitler jr. come out and say the monies would be paid next week three weeks ago? Did he to know how things work? Get a grip and a mind before you come post nonsense.

  3. Them have to waite ,paper work have to take place they have to see how long people work for and put them things together .

    • @Lovely… they have been waiting for over 2 years. Are you such a dumbass that you didn’t see that? Or are you one of those USEFUL IDIOTS.

    • @ Lovely
      Continue to make excuses for the heartless ABLP.
      What a heartless prank.
      Six weeks ago, they were promised that cheques would be cut that ” Friday”
      That was a cruel joke.
      Typical ABLP.
      Wickedness, pure wickedness

  4. Alex Browne is a They wrongfully dismissed workers under Gayle Administration and still owe workers up to this day. When we went to Union it is said our names are not on the list to be paid! We want what is rightfully ours! Union can do better that is why we are paying union dues

  5. The Prime Minister should sell the HUGE BEACH HOUSE he had build on Jolly Beach to pay the Jolly Beach workers. We all know the money spent on building that beach house came from all the Antiguans, and not, from the Prime Minister himself. We all know all he does is Lie Lie Lie Lie to everyone just to fill his own pocket with money. He does not care for the wonderful locals of Antigua!!!

  6. What playing with minds? Every f*cking thing is politics … how the PM can make the people pay before the money is ready to be paid….. y’all act like y’all don’t know how nothing works…… even if the money is there and the amount has been established – there still has to set up a company to deal with the actual accounting and make the payments- people sometimes
    The efforts to get to this place goes totally unnoticed.

Comments are closed.