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UPDATE: Long Bay staff served letters offering voluntary resignation

The Long Bay Resort will concentrate on the operations of the hotel component of the estate owned by Mr Robert Barrett. Photo: VINO
Some employees of Long Bay Resort have categorically stated that they are not happy about how things have unfolded and they are demanding the immediate intervention of the Labour Department and the Premier of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO
Some employees of Long Bay Resort have categorically stated that they are not happy about how things have unfolded and they are demanding the immediate intervention of the Labour Department and the Premier of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO
Long Bay Resort's staff have been served letters of voluntary resignation as the business entity prepares to close it's operations in August for a two-month period. Photo: VINO
Long Bay Resort's staff have been served letters of voluntary resignation as the business entity prepares to close it's operations in August for a two-month period. Photo: VINO
The General Manager of Long Bay Resort, Mr Hugh Robertson, is not willing to speak to the media about matters of their employees. The Resort will be closed for at least two months and a number of employees are expected to be laid off permanently as the company restructures its operations. Photo: VINO
The General Manager of Long Bay Resort, Mr Hugh Robertson, is not willing to speak to the media about matters of their employees. The Resort will be closed for at least two months and a number of employees are expected to be laid off permanently as the company restructures its operations. Photo: VINO
Some of the villas that will be closed from August 19, 2013. Photo: VINO
Some of the villas that will be closed from August 19, 2013. Photo: VINO
Another large section of the Long Bay Resort estate which will be boarded off and closed soon. Photo: VINO
Another large section of the Long Bay Resort estate which will be boarded off and closed soon. Photo: VINO
LONG BAY, Tortola, VI – “At this point we would like to offer you the opportunity to voluntarily resign.” This is the first line under a heading “Voluntary Resignation and Severance Pay Programme” in a letter served to employees of Long Bay Resort today, July 19, 2013.

This news agency secured a copy of the letter from employees who were very disturbed at the manner the letter was served and the way the issue has so far been handled.

Under the same heading, the letter further stated, “If you voluntarily resign, then your effective resignation date will be August 19, 2013, and you will be paid all severance that is due to you in accordance with BVI Labour Laws. Your severance will be paid in full by September 1, 2013.”

The management of Long Bay Resort also told employees that they were going to be handled on a first come first serve basis as the company has limited amount of money to pay severance to everyone. “Once the money is used up, we will no longer be able to accept request for voluntary resignation with severance pay,” according to the document, “The voluntary resignation and severance programme is on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to voluntarily resign and receive your severance pay please see financial controller Richard Wagner as soon as possible,” the letter continued.

On Thursday, July 18, 2013 General Manager of the Long Bay Hotel and Resort, Mr Hugh Robertson told this news agency that they were not willing to cooperate with the media in releasing information as it related to employees and that they had not completed the list of requirements that were requested by the Labour Department of the Virgin Islands. Twenty Four ( 24) hours after, employees were slapped with the letter.

Come August 19, 2013 when the resort closes, those who do not voluntarily resign will be temporarily laid off. “All remaining employees will be furloughed (temporarily laid off) during the period August 19 – October 23, 2013. Furloughed employees will be recalled as of October 23, 2013 to prepare for the resort reopening on October 25, 2013.”

The letter further states, “Once the resort reopens in October, it is very likely that business will be slow and we will be forced to shorten work hours and reduce employee work week (eg. 3 or 4 days work week) accordingly. These reductions will remain in effect until such time as the resort’s occupancy levels can support normal staffing schedules. There will also be the possibility of permanent layoffs if the resort operation cannot support all staff positions.”

It is very likely that going forward Long Bay will close on an annual basis during the summer and fall months due to low occupancy levels, employees were forewarned.

Employees who made contact with Virgin Islands News Online categorically stated that they are not happy about how things have unfolded and they are demanding the immediate intervention of the Labour Department and the Premier of the Virgin Islands.

“This is total nonsense, this is what they are doing to us. We are people with feelings and a heart, we served and they need to come better than this. All the time they knew what was coming and even the media had more information than us and now this,” said an obviously distraught employee.

Efforts to reach Mr Robertson as well as the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley, were futile as of post time.

See previous article posted July 18, 2013

Long Bay Resort not answering questions about workers' severance

- Confirms major downsizing to come; says VI finally hit by global economic recession

“I am not prepared to make any statement about the restructuring of the workforce at the moment. That will become clear within time. All I can say is that we are working closely with the Department of Labour and they have been fully notified and are assisting us with what needs to be done,” said General Manager of Long Bay Resort, Mr Hugh Robertson in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online on Wednesday July 17, 2013.

“That seems to be the focus of the media, is that they are focusing on the employment situation,” Mr Robertson added as he repeatedly back away from responding to any questions that spoke to its human resources. The Long Bay Resort is likely to send home the largest number of persons for 2013 thus far by any business operations in the Virgin Islands.

This is a major concern to the employees as they said management is being unfair to them by going public to say it will be closing and re-organizing the operations yet it has not indicated to them what their fate will be. “Just what they telling you guys is more that what they are tell us their workers. We all just existing one day after another here and we have no clue what will become of us after the 19th of August,” said one employee.

Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for Natural Resources and Labour, Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley confirmed to Virgin Islands News Online that the Labour Ministry had an audience with the management of Long Bay Resort and advised against making a “hasty decision” especially when it came to its current workforce. He said the Department of Labour has given the resort a number of things that it must provide regarding human resources.

Mr Robertson noted that the resort is yet to fulfill a long list of requirements as stipulated by the Labour Department. “It’s quite a long list,” he said.

Major downsizing to come

The management of Long Bay Resort, located at the Western End of Tortola, VI, has come clean that it will definitely be engaging in a major downsizing of its operations and while stating that he has not been deeply following the effects of the global economic crisis, Mr Robertson said it has become obvious that the global crisis has finally hit the Virgin Islands and it is being felt especially in the tourism sector.

He said the scaling down of the operations of the Long Bay Resort has been long in the making and that the company has finally come to the point that it must be done as it is operating a ‘business’.

Mr Hugh Robertson sought to justify the company’s decision for what it has termed as a “streamlining” of operations. He said the owner, Mr Robert Barrett, bought a very ‘complicated’ business model in 2004 estate property. “Although there are only one hundred and fifty nine rooms on the estate, the hotel only owns a small portion of it.”

He further said that with the declining number of tourists coming to Tortola, the company was forced to reassess how it was doing business. He said management made a conscious decision to inform the owners of the sections that are not owned by the hotel that it could no longer be of service to them and would be severing ties.

This process he said would see them closing the sections own by the hotel from August 19, 2013 and re-opening a much smaller operations on October 25, 2013. This he said will see them absorbing all the customer clientele that they have been getting over the years. “We are restructuring the hotel to take focus on the rooms that we own.”

He, Mr Robertson, declined to give names of any of the private owners of the sections that will be closed saying that he is not at liberty to do so but hastened to note that they are persons from all around the globe and that they were positive in their response. Some sections that are connected to the property of the hotel will be boarded up in the process.

The sections that will be closed off are the estate homes, villas and poolside apartments.

56 Responses to “UPDATE: Long Bay staff served letters offering voluntary resignation”

  • egg face (18/07/2013, 08:31) Like (28) Dislike (58) Reply
    shame on Dr. Smith to say the economy is robust!
    • yellow (18/07/2013, 09:17) Like (9) Dislike (123) Reply
      All of these closings, downsizing, lay offs are a shadow of things to come under this government stay tune civil servants are NEXT!
      • pat (18/07/2013, 10:26) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        actually, there are many civil servants doing or overlapping the same jobs. maybe a more efficient government is appropriate for saving money and actually working. That, however, doesn't help those who are being laid off. So is the government and businesses a well-fare state where they are obligated to employ everyone? Is smaller business better than not (bankrupt) business? just putting the question out there.
      • Really? (30/07/2013, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @yellow....under the gov't? Open your close minded eyes, it is worldwide, strupeessss...all over the nation Europe, Americas, etc are being affected by the downturn of the economy. You soon gone say Obama at fault too. I just smh at ignorance like this, typical island mentality, never looking at the bigger picture.
    • AC 360 (19/07/2013, 01:43) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree but come 2016 there days are numbered
      • MOEBEDICK (19/07/2013, 12:19) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
        When AC 360 learns to spell 'their' instead of 'there', then he/she can say 2016 their days are numbered. All sorts of people blogging and can't spell. How can anyone take their comments seriously?
        • bvi (19/07/2013, 18:57) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
          That is not a spelling error in AC360's comment. It is the use of the wrong word.
        • Spell Checker #1 (20/07/2013, 14:35) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
          Ac 360 probably don't know the difference between their and there; here and hair, and lie and lay.
  • pic (18/07/2013, 08:34) Like (14) Dislike (56) Reply
    IN ALL THESE HARD TIMES WHERES KEDRICK PICKERING AND Y THEY ARE RISEING UP THE PRICE OF DEPARTURE TAX?
  • john public (18/07/2013, 08:48) Like (25) Dislike (155) Reply
    we really miss VIP
    • Wow! (22/07/2013, 09:49) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      'john public' what do you miss about the VIP, their frivolous spending thrift or their lack of direction? Clearly they had the opportunity to begin laying the platforms relative to the economic downturn. We had a clear headstart for them to begin put some things in place but what did they do?spend, spend, spend senselessly. So sad. Now we expect NDP to work a miracle in 2 years.
  • weed (18/07/2013, 09:04) Like (17) Dislike (99) Reply
    VINO you lucky he even spoke to you! Well saw both Smith and Myron got egg on their faces about robust economy set of fools who cannot run a country and feel the pain of the ordinary man.
  • watchful (18/07/2013, 09:11) Like (18) Dislike (187) Reply

    Did you read that. We are working closely with labour. I'm not prepare to make any statement at this moment.The w***e man run things in this world. We as bl@*ks have no say.Our leaders are like puppets on a string.

    • By Chance... (18/07/2013, 19:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Maybe if Nature Boy gave them back some of their lounge chairs they wouldn't have to close!!!
    • Typical (19/07/2013, 19:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Always some moron ready to drop the race card.
    • oh really (20/07/2013, 09:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Blacks is not a cuss word , no need to block it out we can say that in polite society
  • rattie (18/07/2013, 09:15) Like (12) Dislike (87) Reply
    YAAAY! NDP Good job guys let’s keep up the good work on fooling the people that all is well and the economy is robust.
  • people seh wha dem want (18/07/2013, 09:58) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI's economy is sustained by services sold to first work countries-they sneezed since 2008, we are just now catching the flu...we are going to hav to tighten our belts
    • Hmm (19/07/2013, 07:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      We always had something, but it's how you deal with it makes the different. It's the same with a cold or flu; it's how you deal with it.
  • BVI Keep Calm (18/07/2013, 10:05) Like (11) Dislike (56) Reply
    Both Governments had and have issues. But clearly the people of the BVI wanted an entirely NDP government and voted the way they did! MADEA will say...helllllurrrr take what y'all voted for!
  • big bird (18/07/2013, 10:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess this is an opportunity to get a SPIN from long bay
  • Binocs (18/07/2013, 10:48) Like (7) Dislike (62) Reply
    i bet you any money long bay hotel going try to lay off locals permanently and keep work permit holders. if that happens then labor department is a joke.
  • ABC (18/07/2013, 12:00) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is another side to this picture. Quite a number of locals bought plots from Long Bay, built villas which were incorperated into the hotel's operation. What must be a concern to the owners of the villas is where do we go from here in making good on our morgage payments after Aug. 19th 2013. More fore closures is almost a given.
    • Villas (18/07/2013, 16:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Long Bay Hotel has not been paying this villa owners for years. Everytime they are expected to pay, they take the money for grounds, hotel maintenance, etc. or they claim that they did not rent the villa. The owners have been paying from their pockes for years now.
  • OK Then (18/07/2013, 12:23) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    A company is downsizing. OK then. They will reduce the size of the property. Ok them.. good move. less to maintain... less electricity... that is obvious. They need to access the staff. Ok then... necessary... there are many models that can be used... tenure... performance... rate of pay... relevance of positions I dont see why we have so many negative comments. Where is the forum for us to give positive suggestions to this government to help our businesses survive. #1 We Need to get electricity lowered this affects everyone. #2 I think that Government needs get outside the box on airlift / seaports... #3 Collect taxes and fees. #4 spend money to make money... we need festival to be big this year to attract people to our shores. #5 access the rental and standadize market in this country. just some ideas
  • simple (18/07/2013, 13:31) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The tourist borad should have been pusblisizing the festival we have here and getting people for all over the globe to come here. Even it would be great to have the cruise ships here for the festival time. The hotels should lower there rates a bit for (carnival season) that time.
  • cnn (18/07/2013, 13:39) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    ...lol! Way to go, NDP
  • red man (18/07/2013, 14:35) Like (8) Dislike (39) Reply
    Poor people getting licks under this government
  • my two cents (18/07/2013, 16:04) Like (2) Dislike (23) Reply
    first of all why could we not get a local manager? Hope no more expat work permit is done for deeds psots
  • foxy (18/07/2013, 17:04) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    What's next?
  • Labour Dept. (18/07/2013, 18:17) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply

    Where is the Minister in charge of this Department? After hearing some of the Top Employment Providers having lay -off , down-sized or whatever name they want to call it; you would have thought that the Minister in Charge of OUR Labour affairs would have stepped in by now . Is the Government NOT CONCERNED about the welfare of its CITIZENS???? Get off your 4KING posteriors .Put an Immediate FREEZE ON ALL NEW WORK-PERMIT APPLICATIONS ALREADY!!!! If major businesses are down-sizing ,what the hell do you think the Small businesses are doing???? STOP PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH THE CITIZENS LIVES !!! THE SAME WAY THAT YOU PUT A FREEZE ON YOUR CIVIL SERVANTS INCREMENTS, I THINK THAT IN ALL FAIRNESS , A FREEZE ON ALL NEW WORK-PERMITS SHOULD BE IN ORDER !!!

  • one sided (18/07/2013, 20:01) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Labour will take the side of big business
  • long look me come from (19/07/2013, 01:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lot of locals working at long bay so nothing will be done!
  • hair (19/07/2013, 10:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everyone knows there is no such thing as a free lunch this hotel trying to maximise profits.

  • hard times (19/07/2013, 19:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The bottom line is the mismanagement of funds. This is so sad for those affected.
  • fishy (19/07/2013, 20:07) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    There is no way in the labour code that says you are entitled to severance if you resign.
    Please get your hands on a copy of the labour code and read for yourselves before accepting.
    If you resign you are not entitled to severance. If they send you home then you are entitled to it.
  • Employment (19/07/2013, 20:09) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    So why nobody covering our local businesses that haven't paid staff salary in months. Haven't paid social security in years despite taking it out of their salary and worst things? Man if you going to cover one cover all this is not fair. If a company is not doing good there's no good way to lay off. What you want them to do lie and pretend the company is making money when its not? The staff working there so they should know that much people are not coming. LIME and other major companies offer voluntary resignation all the time with pay out and that's a damn good deal. If the company goes belly up then nobody gets anything. Let's cover all the horror stories that employees go through not just those with politics and feelings attached. I know that people know of the others I'm talking about.
  • ooooo (19/07/2013, 23:20) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    not a soul on government's side to represent ayo...not one
  • vip (19/07/2013, 23:21) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    This couldn't happen under we.
  • Chris (20/07/2013, 00:31) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lay off is happing all over the world... Cost of living is very high everywhere... Second the government allowed too many outsiders to enter the BVI...so jobs for locals are limited...and some of these companies didn't want to pay out a good living wage.. third...why have a darn hotel so high for a night rent a room out for $50.-60. bucks a night and see what you get... a full hotel. but no everyone wants to rent a room for 100 buck a night.. that hotel should be prime tourist attraction. It's located next to a beautiful beach... they shouldn't have any problems getting that hotel rented, if they stop over pricing the rooms
    • captain the ship is sinking (20/07/2013, 08:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      half that story had never been told
    • Employment (20/07/2013, 08:59) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      You have no clue whatsoever. Local jobs have nothing to do with permits. That's just an excuse for locals to complain and play victims. Ask the Labour and Immigration Departments how many permits have been process and left at their offices, nobody to collect them because the people gone back home, hundreds. Ask them how many people decided not to renew their permit. Get that information then you will realize that despite many people leaving it doesn't automatically mean local jobs. Locals will get jobs when they prove themselves and are willing to work from the bottom up. Further, being a local the focus should not be on 'jobs' but rather on opportunity. YOu are local and can therefore start your own business etc. so why all the hoopla about jobs? You beat your chests and brag about how good we are yet you turn around and ball for jobs? That doesn't make sense. Permits have nothing to do with locals getting jobs. Do your own research .
  • @ Employment (20/07/2013, 07:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I know some of the others you are talking about....
  • facts (20/07/2013, 08:33) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    See NDP told us they can fix the economy but as the days goes by it gets worst under them!
  • Koolaid (20/07/2013, 08:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vino why is Mr. Robertson is avoiding talking to you? Are they hiding something form the PUBLIC and STAFF at Long Bay. If you can recall earlier when this company took Long Bay and Staffs went to labor, they Labor department told them "the name hasn't change so staff cannot have their severances now Long Bay Beach Resort will no longer be it will reopen as Long Bay Beach Club, what's all this about Voluntary resignation, Labor should take this matter in theirs hands and deal with it the correct way it must have been done from the first time these new Businessman took Long Bay, again if you go back earlier and now present we the BVI Islanders are they without any severances its new owner clearly shown now. Labor please getup and come to Long Bay and fix this, all other non be longer get theirs Severances, what about US. Mr. Smith we voted for you to protect us in the right way please come to our aid now
    GOD BLESS US ALL at LONG BAY and the BVI
  • Wicked (20/07/2013, 09:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why don't they pay out the people or turn them over to the other company this is what or government letting these people for these hotels get away with they can do what they want and the people get no justice from the Labour department lay or laws down on these managers and owners of these hotel
  • Donald E. de Castro (20/07/2013, 10:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Since 2004 when the Virgin Islands Workers Union was established and registered we have done every thing to get employees to understand that it is their responsibility to unite and protect themselves. However, they refuse to understand this so expect the situation to continue to get worse as government is there to protect the major employers and have no interest in the poor working individual except at election time for their vote. This is the concept of both parties.
  • for what (20/07/2013, 13:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    yet a set of retard still saying the economy robust!!
    • Unsung hero (20/07/2013, 15:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Maybe that might be a question for voters to ask Dr. I do not have a clue and funny man
  • is this legal? (21/07/2013, 00:03) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Doesn't sound like they have much faith in the future of their hotel. I'd opt to get my deference and get out. And how can they say severance won't be available to all? Isn't it their obligation to do so? I truly think this sounds unfair and if they aren't breaking any labour laws then the laws need to be changed. The people need protection. Also the country best look at initiating an employment insurance or welfare program because there is a growing population of unemployed people who can't afford the basic necessities in life.
  • last resort (21/07/2013, 00:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    maybe rent out the vacancies at long bay resort to disadvantaged lawyers. the poor ones who charge
    you less than $400 per hour. a kind of a homeless shelter for sleazebags. make them put on a big
    fire dance on the beach for the tourist ships to see, and set themselves on fire....
  • tgfdgrft (21/07/2013, 11:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I may disagree about the way this unfolded the truth is that tough decisions have to be made about Long Bay. That place has been operating very close to or in the red for a number of years. Downsizing is nothing new. It is often used as a method to cut operational costs. This is just the way it is. yes people will loose their jobs in these already trying times but this is nothing new in business though it might be for those affected by the hotel's decision. Many of our hotels close during the slow season including Bitter End and Biras Creek. Thankfully Long Bay did not do it in the past but is obviously forced to do it now. What can government do in this situation other than to make sure that those employes who will be affected most receive what they are entitled to?
  • Ella (21/07/2013, 16:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Long Bay has been sold and Rob Barrett is trying to see how less he can pay out the employees. He has other hotels in Antigua and St. Vincent so why are they giving the employees a hard time in collecting their severance pay. I put this situation in the hands of Almighty God.
  • Jenny (30/09/2013, 18:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Are their foreclosures among the villa owners at Long Bay? Does anyone know? How are they managing? They can't rent their vials out while the resort is closed with parts boarded up and the pool now empty. Is this place going the same way as Prospect Reef?


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