The representative of former City Market employees has threatened further legal action against the defunct supermarket chain following repeated "disgraceful" delays in paying outstanding employee benefits.
Whanslaw Turnquest, former City Market inventory control auditor and acting representative of the supermarket chain's former employees, spoke out against Bahamas Supermarkets Limited's (BSL) failure to pay severance and pension sums to its former employees in an interview with Guardian Business.
"This is now two years and two months since Bahamas Supermarket Ltd. suspended operations and the employees have not received one dime towards their severance matters and they haven't received 90 percent of their pensions that are owed to them."
Turnquest stated that he and the former employees are holding an "emergency meeting" of former City Market employees at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 in R.M. Bailey Park to decide their course of action.
According to Turnquest, the 356 employees at the time of City Market's closure and over 500 pensioners are, "owed in excess of $4 million in severance and $5 million in pensions". Turnquest claimed that thirteen former employees have died since the closure of the supermarket chain without being reimbursed.
"This is disgraceful. This is a breakdown of law in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas," said Turnquest.
He described the amount of the settlement as "non-negotiable" and warned of litigation if the employees' demands are not met within the week. "By Wednesday of next week, if this matter isn't resolved, I will be instructing my international attorneys to start legal proceedings against all defendants," he said.
Although the supermarket chain has been out of business since 2012, Turnquest asserted that the government has been slow to address the missing funds. "I forwarded letters to the attorney general's office, the prime minister's office and the Minister of Labour demanding all monies...be paid out to the employees," said Turnquest. So far, no one has received any official support.
"The government of The Bahamas has to show responsibility for the citizens and workers of this country to maintain the law."
However, Turnquest remained determined to represent the former employees. "This matter's not going away. I don't want anyone to feel that the employees of Bahamas Supermarkets Limited are going to be slighted in any way."
Turnquest added that Stephen Turnquest of Callenders & Co. represented the workers on severance issues, while James Thompson represented former employees in Freeport.
In the past, BSL President Mark Finlayson claimed that employees would be paid once a deal to sell City Markets to Super Value was finalized. That deal was completed in June 2012.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian