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Rosan vs 'Quito' case transferred to Labour Minister

- Mathieu Rosan is prepared to go to the courts if all other avenues fail
Commissioner of Labour Janice I. F. Rymer has transferred the complaint of Joseph Mathieu Rosan (right) against band leader and manager Enriquito Rymer (left) to the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering. Photo: Facebook
Rosan approached the Labour Department seeking redress after alleging that he was fired from the band Quito and the Edge in February 2016. Rosan said he was fired following a post he made on Facebook criticising Minister for Communications and Works Mark H. Vanterpool for the cruise ship development project. Photo: Facebook/Provided
Rosan approached the Labour Department seeking redress after alleging that he was fired from the band Quito and the Edge in February 2016. Rosan said he was fired following a post he made on Facebook criticising Minister for Communications and Works Mark H. Vanterpool for the cruise ship development project. Photo: Facebook/Provided
The letter written to Joseph Mathieu Rosan by the Labour Department. Photo: Provided
The letter written to Joseph Mathieu Rosan by the Labour Department. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Commissioner of Labour Janice I. F. Rymer has transferred the complaint of Joseph Mathieu Rosan against band leader and manager Enriquito Rymer to the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7).

Rosan approached the Labour Department seeking redress after alleging that he was fired from the band Quito and the Edge in February 2016. Rosan said he was fired following a post he made on Facebook criticising Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool for the cruise pier development project.

However, in correspondences to the Labour Department, manager of the band Enriquito Rymer said Rosan was fired because he was not making the grade, saying that he was given numerous chances to learn the songs and play them as desired. Rosan provided text messages and Facebook posts to support his contention that his firing was for his comments made on his personal Facebook account against the Works Minister.

Rosan told this news site that he received word that a letter had been prepared for him by the Labour Department and thus he shared it with us.

It read in part: “Please note that the Labour Commissioner's Office has concluded that your matter will be transferred to the Minister [for] Natural Resources and Labour for further action. This action is taken pursuant to section 26 (3) of the 2010 Labour Code, which states 'Where the Commissioner fails to achieve a settlement within thirty days from the date of reference under subsection (2) or such longer period as the parties may agree, he or she shall transmit the matter with a full report on the matter, to the Minister.'”

Political or Musical?

Rosan in a brief comment to this news site said that it was his impression that the persons at the Labour Department were hopeful of resolving the matter at their level. However, he said that it was not expected that Enriquito Rymer would have abruptly left the meeting after presenting a written document to them outlining his side of the story and saying that Rosan was fired for not playing the right music and that the issue was being made political when it was just musical.

'Quito' Rymer in his letter also called the entire episode a waste of his time and threatened legal action if Rosan continued to "defame" his character.

Rosan said he wanted to satisfy himself by going through the entire process and as a last recourse he will approach the court, once all other avenues fail.

According to Rosan, he was asked to check in about a week's time to see where the process is. He said once the Ministry wraps up they will write him.

Rosan said he has all of the records of financial exchanges between himself and Enriquito Rymer which aptly demonstrates that there was a contract and, according to his contention, that contract was broken when he was fired for what he called political reasons. “A contract could be verbal or written and the way to prove that is by documentation...if you write a cheque to me for work done...that constitutes a contract,” he said.

Rosan said he is fully prepared to go to court on the issue but wanted to exhaust all other avenues for redress with the relevant documentation to show before doing so.

See earlier stories here:  

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/joseph-m-rosan-accuses-quito-rhymer-of-unfair-dismissal

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/rosan-takes-band-firing-matter-to-labour-department

27 Responses to “Rosan vs 'Quito' case transferred to Labour Minister”

  • Jury (02/04/2016, 10:00) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    “Please note that the Labour Commissioner's Office has concluded that your matter will be transferred to the Minister [for] Natural Resources and Labour for further action." Dead case!!! We waiting here at the court to let you know. Hurry!!!!
  • Jane (02/04/2016, 10:03) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    well sah lawd ah mussy tis poor fella who is advising him Myron?
  • strumu (02/04/2016, 10:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pure drama
  • watching (02/04/2016, 10:54) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    Are you freaking kidding me ?? Hope there aren't any real problems in the territory
  • wize up (02/04/2016, 11:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    lets get this show on the road: need a front row seat for this performance!!!!
  • MATTAE (02/04/2016, 13:18) Like (24) Dislike (7) Reply
    Lord, Mattie, you aint tired? Everytime you in something. You just like you hantid. Them must be put cuss pon you, buddy. Them boys playing with the Edge so long ago and I aint hear nothing about them. But you just come, you done get yourself in some sauce already. Try go cool out. You will get 7 days severance pay and that's it. End of story. What is your entitlement? None, for God's sake.
    • gnazi (02/04/2016, 17:15) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
      the word is haunted not hantid
      • Opportunity Cop (03/04/2016, 12:27) Like (1) Dislike (12) Reply
        He/She used it in slang form, akin to dialect, I'm sure.
      • History (03/04/2016, 19:44) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Lol. We know the word is haunted. It's just that in some villages in BVI long ago, that's how it was pronounced. Actually when I read it I had a good laugh because that's exactly how my grandmother used to say it.
  • Speakin Out (02/04/2016, 14:08) Like (25) Dislike (20) Reply
    I’ve been following this story but have not commented because it’s not usually my style to communicate in mass. But now I feel I should say something. Though Mattie and I haven't always agreed on matters, the Mattie I have gotten to know over the years is a stand up person, not a trouble maker. Mattie is a talented and educated individual, a person who has strong morals and conviction, and who doesn’t hesitate to stand up for what he thinks is right or wrong. If you understand Mattie, you know that he holds firm to the view that human rights matter; human rights are there so that peoples’ honesty and hard work pays off for them and their families. Mattie understands that a person’s value or contribution to society is based on real criteria and not left to a determination based on the whims of the establishment. Fight for freedom and stand up for what is right. Mattie will probably tell you that he’s not fighting this to “win.” It’s not about winning, but about standing up for yourself and what matters to you. I’ll look forward to seeing how this plays out.
  • only in BVI (02/04/2016, 17:09) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This thing sounds so strange. Crazy. Ridiculous to me. Where I come from you show up to practice late in one week the next week someone has your place. You don't show up for a gig the same night someone else has your spot. If you are a drummer and you not up to it.. When you show up to practice someone else would be on the drums.. The old drummer just have to look on. While practice goes on.. The band room always fill with musicians watching on. Waiting to get their chance ..every musician and singer want to be in a band where I come from.. Unlike here. Thats the difference..
    • Yes (04/04/2016, 08:53) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Where you come from has crazy people too! LOL
    • @Only in the BVI (04/04/2016, 09:44) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      You can not read between the lines. Wha happen to Mattie had nothing to do with music. He played in the band for years and only now he can not drum. He really did get release from the band because of what he said on Social Media but the problem is Quito handled it stupidly. Anybody that knows Mattie would not have the sense to tell him the truth. If Quito had simply said to Mattie we decided to let you because of actions that they feel are detrimental to the band instead of his drumming which was the actual truth we would not be here today. Good Mattie bad Mattie i have to agree with him on this one.
      • Bay Boy (05/04/2016, 11:04) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        CANT YOU UNDERSTAND MATTIE WAS NOT FIRED !!!! HE WALKED OUT OF THE MEETING AND NEVER CAME BACK. HE WAS WAS ASKED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO BETTER HIS DRUMMING BUT TOOK IT OFFNESIVELY. THATS THE WHOLE LONG AND SHORT OF THIS STORY. IT WAS NOTHING POLITICAL.
  • humble (02/04/2016, 17:28) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is proof that musicians cannot work together in the BVI. Hence they are so many Piece piece band we need to recognized that in music playing is a skill. Writing is a skill. Good listening ear is a skill. Organizing is a skill. Entertaining is a skill. Singing is a skill. Leading is a skill. Managing is a skill...everyone has different skills. The utelization of each skills is what creates success...Not round pegs in Square holes.
  • Boo (02/04/2016, 19:08) Like (13) Dislike (12) Reply
    Somebody need to stand to this political victimization bullsh*t. Hats off to Mattie for taking a stand! Take this to the fr*gging Privy Council if you have to brother
  • my 2 cents (03/04/2016, 09:08) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let sleeping dog lie mattie
  • How (03/04/2016, 09:36) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Didn't he have a interview? Shouldn't His music skills and knowledge of the songs of the band be checked at that time?
  • Yes (03/04/2016, 12:57) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mattie go sit down from wasting ppl time and money. Quito probably tired if that 1 plaid shirt, khaki shorts and dirty rubber slippers you wear every Friday to perform like it's a uniform.
  • Musician (04/04/2016, 09:35) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    IF YOU LESS,YOU JUST LESS......
  • Mark (04/04/2016, 20:38) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    We live in a democratic society and its everyone's rights to challenge these action no matter how silly or petty it might seems. Sometimes I does fee that Matty aint all here but its his right. Good Luck
  • Yes (05/04/2016, 14:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ayo cracking me up


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