PHILIPSBURG:--- Locals working for Sonesta Great Bay/ Maho Group are now walking on their toes as management of the company are busy firing local workers and are replacing them with foreign workers that comes from Sandals Resort.
Several of the workers contacted SMN News on more than one occasion stating that the foreigners that are brought in by the company gets top positions while locals are being victimized.
According to information provided to SMN News workers that worked for the company for 25 to 30 years are being fired. Another concern raised the abuse and misuse of the six months (temporary short term contracts) given to workers that are holding permanent positions.
While management of Maho Group are making deductions for health care and other premiums workers are not given their medical cards, and those that protested or fight for their rights are being terminated without compensation. According to information provided to SMN News states that former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan signed off on an exchange agreement with management of Maho Group in 2013, this even led to the company trying to get rid of local musicians and replace them with a band from Jamaica.
On Wednesday SMN News posed several questions to the members of the Council of Ministers about the exchange agreement that Maho Group obtained from the former Minister of Justice and most of the members of the council claim not to know about the “top secret” agreement.
However, when SMN News asked Prime Minister William Marlin if he is aware of the agreement since it transpired when he was the deputy prime minister in 2013 Marlin said he did not see the agreement but knows that there was discussions taking place between the former Minister of Justice and Maho Group of Companies. Marlin said based on the information he got at the time the agreement was to allow Maho Group to bring in people for training and not to take up top positions at the company.