More than two dozen former City Market employees waited outside the House of Assembly on Wednesday in an effort to address the issue of their severance packages to Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of Labour and National Insurance Shane Gibson.
As Gibson exited the House, he saw the crowd of around 30 workers and subsequently decided to address them.
Gibson said Bahamas Supermarkets Limited's (BSL) President Mark Finlayson has assured the Ministry of his commitment to pay the employees.
"It is not the case that they are denying that they owe the money, it is the fact that after we were awarded $2.8 million in court they are not paying the money - not one penny so far," former inventory control auditor at City Market, Wanslaw Turnquest told the labour minister.
The purchase of City Market was finalized last month with owner of Super Value, Rupert Roberts.
Turnquest said employees are also looking to be paid monies from the company's pension fund.
Asked whether the government plans to intervene, Gibson said it has been dealing with the situation since day one.
"We met with them; they agreed money was owed and they keep saying it's going to be paid, and that is why I'm suggesting to Mr. Turnquest to file an injunction to at least take control of the pension plan."
However, Prime Minister Perry Christie, who exited the House shortly after Gibson, told Turnquest he would do whatever is necessary to resolve the matter.
"I do understand that your people are suffering; I understand that, and I am prepared to address it," Christie said.
The prime minister said he will meet with Turnquest, Gibson and if necessary Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson.
"You are now going to meet with the prime minister," Christie said. "I am going to use my office to assist you in the best way I can. It'll be [in] a very transparent and accountable way, and it will be intended to get results for you."
The National Insurance Board (NIB) has assisted the 300 workers in gaining 50 percent of their weekly salary for 13 weeks, but months after BSL closed its final City Market locations many of them told The Nassau Guardian that even with the help they are "struggling to survive".
Kim Bodie, former dairy frozen food manger, said he is tired of the rectoric.
"I have a son to put back in school, mortage payments, the bills are piling up and I have to live."
Roscoe Rolle, who is still unemployed, said he is facing dire financial challenges, and expects the government to settle the millions of dollars owed to them.
In May 2005, the previous Christie administration paid out an unprecedented $5 million of the $6.12 million that Driftwood Freeport Ltd., the former owner of Royal Oasis, owed in redundancy pay to 900 displaced workers.
"I have no income coming in with children ages 15, 11, nine and two and their father is not working," said Letitia Johnson, a mother of four and former employee of five years, who was evicted last month after failing to meet rent payments.
"I don't have anything. What should I do as a mother? What should I tell my kids at the end of the day when they cry and say the are hungry?"
Gibson reaffirmed his commitment to introduce legislation to protect employee pensions.

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