Philipsburg:--- Four employees of the Simpson Bay Resort who are entitled to their salaries based on a verdict of the Court of First Instance rendered on April 2nd, 2012 filed for bankruptcy against the Simpson Bay Resort sometime in July announced President of the Workers Institute of Organized Labour (WIFOL) Theophillus Thompson. Thompson made the announcement on Thursday at the WICLU's weekly press conference. The WIFOL President explained that after the employees filed for the bankruptcy, the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company filed for protection under the same grounds of bankruptcy. Thompson said a moratorium was granted by the judge and a trustee was also appointed by the judge to determine whether or not the petitions before him are valid.
Thompson said WIFOL has instructed their lawyers to make some legal inquires about the trustee that was appointed by the court. The WIFOL President said that the reason they asked their lawyers to investigate and make inquires about the trustee is because the WIFOL had contacted that same law firm and the lawyer in question during the initial stage of the Pelican saga to represent the workers of SBRMC but the lawyer that is representing the resort (SBRMC) Mr. Jairo Bloem protested against the choice of the union's lawyer claiming that the law firm in question also worked for the Resort. "If that is the case then this would be a conflict of interest and we have to make sure this does not happen. We are now looking into the matter to determine how it was possible for the judge to appoint a curator from the same law firm that works for SBRMC."
Thompson said the workers filed for bankruptcy because they are still employed by the company and they have not been paid since last year November even though the court ruled that SBRMC is responsible for the workers and they must be paid. Thompson said since the verdict was rendered SBRMC has refused to comply with the court's decision, leaving the workers with no other choice but to use the legal measures that are available to them. "The SBRMC refused to obey the orders even though there are penalties for non-compliance."
Thompson said based on the most recent developments at the SBRMC, operations are now in the hands of the legal system.