I knew nothing of the Marriott mass layoffs, says PM

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WHILE rumours abound that Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas may have been privy to the decision by the St. Kitts Marriott Resort to terminate 100 of its workers, he has definitively declared that he was unaware of the action.

“I was not aware when the workers were laid off. In fact, I heard that people have been saying here in this country that I was informed and I was in a meeting with management the night before, which is foolishness and nonsense,” Douglas stressed in his monthly press conference yesterday (Apr. 22).

Douglas indicated that although he was not informed of the decision, he was aware of layoff discussions in mid-March, presuming that “it was the normal annual layoff”. He emphasized that he was not aware of any impending mass layoff last week while he was off-island for the Fifth Summit of the Americas. 

The PM further denounced rumours that the Marriott would be laying off some 200 more workers in the near future, stating that if there are to be further layoffs, the Department of Labour would have to be fully informed beforehand.

“Those who are making those malicious statements of rumour are just pursuing a very negative political agenda, which is not going to fly.

“I am not aware of any impending layoff at this moment. I believe that if there are going to be further layoffs, the Labour Commission of the Minister responsible for Labour would be informed, and maybe with courtesy I’ll also be informed. At the moment, I have no such information,” he said.

PM Douglas gave current employees the assurance that if there were to be more layoffs, his government would continue to engage the Marriott management and ensure that the action is taken “within the ambit of the law”. 

“We would want to verify that the reasons that are being given for the layoff of our workers are genuine and credible. I believe that an analysis would be done of the situation, as it is being done currently, and attempts would definitely be made to assist the workers who would be laid off.” 

Douglas revealed that there are ongoing discussions within the Labour Department regarding the payment of redundancy monies as the government attempts to protect the interests of the displaced workers.