Baha Mar employees leave the resort property in June 2015 after receiving letters stating that the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (Photo: Torrell Glinton)

Over the last week, the government has made a series of announcements in relation to the former workers of Baha Mar receiving what was owed to them when the resort closed last year and sent over 2,000 workers home.

While government officials are heralding the news as excellent, some former workers we spoke to had mixed views.
Prime Minister Perry Christie on Sunday said it is his hope that Bahamian employee claims will be settled no later than September 30, and all other claims will be dealt with on or before December 31, 2016.

To some, this is "great news"; a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. But for one former worker, it is yet another "empty promise" by the prime minister that may never happen.

Tiara Campbell left her job of 12 years to work for Baha Mar.

The single mother of two was devastated when she learned via e-mail that she no longer had the means to support her young children.

Campbell told The Nassau Guardian that she was "not the least bit excited" when she heard Christie's initial announcement last week, as he is "full of empty promises".

But Sunday's news has provided her a little hope, especially since she is still "neck deep in bills".

"You know, it makes me happy that we will be getting paid," said Campbell, who The Guardian previously spoke to in the months following the closure of the resort.

"I'm still not quite sure how they will do it, but it is, I guess, great news. I would be more happy if we could get our jobs back after the resort is completed. You know, like I said to you the last time, I'm still working as a cashier at a convenience store. What I make is not enough.

"So at this point, if I get this money next month, I'm going to be happy. But I mean, because it is Perry Christie, I'm not holding my breath. But hey, if it happens, good for us."

Shannell Murphy, 23, is optimistic and just happy to hopefully be receiving the extra cash.

"I don't feel any other way than happy that they decided to try to open the resort," said Murphy. "Hopefully, they decide to rehire us. I do want to know if they are paying us through our accounts or through checks. But, I'm happy."

Murphy said the closure of the project delayed her pursuit of a tertiary education, as Baha Mar was her only source of income and her "savings plan".

A year after being let go, Murphy is still unemployed and left with what "seems like an infinite amount of bills" and what she describes as little opportunity to further her education.

Geoffrey Deleveaux was also among those laid off last year. The former manager said while the payout is considerably good news, the workers were given the impression that once the resort comes on stream they would be given their jobs back. Though he said he was happy for the payout, he said, "It wasn't a part of our original deal."

"A lot of my former colleagues have stated that their lives are in ruins from a financial standpoint [because] a lot of perons left their former employment to go to Baha Mar which was then considered the dream," he said.

"As far as the payouts are concerned, there is going to be comfort to a lot of people, especially to persons who may not have found employment or those making minimum wage. It may be a source of comfort, but when you look at it from my perspective, I see it as a short-term comfort. You still have bills coming in. People are still unemployed.

"...For persons such as myself, as a professional of 35 years in the hospitality industry who had a significant salary in comparison to some persons, this payout for me would be like a drop in the bucket."

The government announced yesterday that members of the committee that will administer the claims are former Minister of State for Finance James Smith; Grant Lyon, a liquidation claims advisor to the government; Yanping Mo, a representative of the Export-Import Bank of China; Norbert Chan, a representative of Deloitte; and Tiger Wu (representative of China Construction America).

The statement said, "Part and parcel of the remobilization was the acknowledgement and provision of funds to deal with the claims of unsecured creditors, in particular Bahamian creditors, in accordance with an agreed formula and a process for the assignment of those claims.

"In this regard, it is important to note that these claims are being paid from monies which have been made available by the bank, as the Baha Mar companies in liquidation have no assets from which to pay creditors."

The statement added, "The bank will shortly place on deposit in The Bahamas the funds necessary for the work of the committee to settle the Bahamian employees' related claims as outlined by the prime minister during his address to the nation on August 22, and to administer and pay the claims of Bahamian creditors, according to the process which has been indicated."

The government said further announcements on the specific details of the process will come from the committee.
The statement yesterday provided the first details of the process since last week's announcement.

Jayme C. Pinder, Guardian Staff Reporter

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