FREEPORT – Grand Bahama’s unemployment was pushed up another notch Thursday when over a half of the staff at the popular Coral Beach Hotel were dismissed.
The beach-front property, located on Royal Palm Way, has been a touristic haven for more than 35 years.
Tiffany Dennison, attorney for the hotel, confirmed the termination of the employees, citing financial difficulties due to the increased cost of operations.
Unable to confirm a specific number, Ms. Dennison said quite a few were dismissed. “Yes, some staff members were terminated today and some were re-affirmed to their positions” she said. “The parties that were terminated were terminated with full compensation under the current laws and told that they would receive reference letters and any assistance for their future endeavours.
Ms. Dennison explained that the reason the employees (were) discharged is that the hotel is “having some financial difficulties due to increased cost of operations, including insurance, repairs, assessment, and in order for the hotel to continue to operate, they just had to cut back.”
The Board, she stressed, had to find a way to cut back and restructure and that is what they did. Ms. Dennison claimed that the Board was “not happy” about having to layoff the workers. “It was a very hard decision for the Board to make, but it was obviously the scenario they had to go with in order for the hotel operations to stay alive,” she said.
The attorney noted that the hotel kept all of the employees following the hurricanes, and jobs were found “for everyone and I believe they gave the employees extra pay to assist with their needs.”
They did everything they could to keep everybody on as long as they possibly could,” she added.
“But it’s just come to a situation now where, in order to survive, this is what they’ve had to do”
All of the employees were appraised of the hotel’s position and what it was forced to do, noted Ms. Dennison.
“With the state of the economy now in Grand Bahama and tourism down, it’s an effort to try and keep operations open to hopefully be able to continue operating toward our tourism here and hopefully once they’re back on their feet again they can rehire,” Ms. Dennison said.
“Obviously the owners don’t know what the future holds, but they are just trying to stay alive right now.”
By BARBARA WALKIN, Senior Freeport News Reporter
