BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MONTHS after the abrupt closure of the doors of Clear Harbor leaving approximately 131 persons without a job, the former employees of this Call Centre that was situated in close proximity to the RLB International Airport, have finally received the last of their outstanding dues.
Today (Dec. 22), approximately 113 persons gathered at the Labour Department to pick up their final cheques and close the door on the unceremonious event of that day.
Speaking with the Labour Commissioner, Spencer Amory, he explained that the former employees were paid sometime before but some of them were not paid in full.
"They had received wages before and they had also received a severance payment following the closure of the Clear Harbor operations. However there were some outstanding payments that were due to them.
"After the Department of Labour and Clear Harbor had gotten together to review payroll information, it was discovered that they had been short paid in wages and in holiday pay, and so this exercise here today is actually bringing closure to that matter," he enunciated.
He explained that this payroll review occurred after numerous complaints of incorrect calculations were made following that payment.
He continued, "Some $125 000 have been outstanding to the workers and today we are now seeing the closure so persons who were short-paid will be fully paid up."
He further stated that the matter had reached as far as the Courtroom, as there were also outstanding payments owed to the Social Security Board.
"The matter had reached to the Court and Clear Harbor had moved to give a commitment to pay the arrears due to those workers, also arrears due to the various social taxes - Social Security, Social Levy, and the severance payment fund," he said.
Amory said that it took a long time but the Labour Department is happy with the outcome and commends Clear Harbor's former Financial Advisor for his efforts put in to this matter.
"We are really happy; it comes at a very opportune time. It took a long time because this event occurred in April of this year, but we are very appreciative. We have to, from the Labour Department, commend Mr. Greg Payne, the former Financial Advisor for the Clear Harbor here; he has been quite helpful and cooperative with the Department in helping us to trawl through the information, and arrive at the position we now have," he said.
"I want to extend sincerest thanks to all those workers who have been affected following the abrupt closure of Clear Harbor operations in St. Kitts. They have exhibited exemplary patience on this matter," Amory said.
The former workers are happy as well to be receiving their dues, a few stating, "It is about time". One ex-worker stated that, "this come just in time for Christmas. I consider it a Christmas gift".
They are all thanking both Greg Payne and Adrian Buchanan for the efforts that they have put in to make their outstanding payments possible and bring an end to the dilemma.
In 2009, the Clear Harbor Call Center brought its operations to St. Kitts, and on March 30, 2011, without prior notice, the Company closed its doors, leaving some 131 persons unemployed.
One week after the closure, it was announced that High Court Judge, His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas granted an injunction against the company.
In April, a press release reported that the Social Security Board received some monies from Clear Harbor to satisfy its various obligations for Social Security and Employment benefits, but there was still an outstanding balance of EC$2,192.15 for Severance Payments and EC$12,742.44 for Housing Levy.
It was also reported that the Electricity Department of St. Kitts and Inland Revenue Department under the Income Tax Act were also owed monies.
St. Kitts and Nevis’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Hon. Sam Condor described the sudden closure as “callous, unprofessional, disrespectful, and a clear breach of the Protection of Employment Act and subsidiary legislation".
He did promise that, "every legal option would be also explored in an effort to ensure that this matter is justly dealt with”.
