The editor
The Anguillian

I have become seriously concerned about the current trend of workers in the tourism industry been unceremoniously pushed aside, many after countless years of service to the same establishment.

I am convinced that if nothing is done to remedy this unspeakable ill many of our stalwarts who laid the ground work for the next generation of hotel workers may be left without any form of compensation in their latter days.

The situation to which I seek to highlight is where the current trend at many hotel establishments and Hotels in particular kept their employees on a piece meal hourly paid basis indefinitely, many for over twenty five years. The fact that these employees never signed any initial contract of employment they can be easily disposed of without any consideration to their many years of tireless service to the hotel.

The Government must seek to address this situation through the appropriate legislations or even develop temporarily policies. I would like to also encourage the hotel workers to unite and bond themselves in some form of union or any other form of collective bargaining body. I must acknowledge the efforts the Government made a few years ago to have a Labour code put in place, only to have it quashed by overly concerned elements in the community.

I dread the thought of many of these Hotels deciding to close their doors, just think of what will happen to these workers. Anguilla has already witnessed the closure of the Golf Course project without one cent being paid to its employees; this in itself has set the trend on the island. The four seasons hotel in Nevis closed its doors after damages from hurricane Omar but thanks the conditions of the fair labour code that’s in placed their the employees were taken care of with the appropriate compensation.

The situation at the Malliouhana Hotel is really distasteful to many here in Anguilla. This hotel has enjoyed more than many, the early years of success from the low wages and very profitable seasons, actually more than twenty such years. The natural school of thought of many was that this establishment would have done all in their power to cushion their trusted employees from this economic slow down, knowing full well that many of these same employees were the very ones that stuck with them over their years of plenty. I end by asking all employers in the tourism industry to show more concern for the backbone of their business “we the people”.

Concerned Citizen.

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