UPDATE: Questions linger on LIME BVI redundancies
Information reaching this news site indicated that the positions of two staff members, Janette N. Brin and Karen B. Aaron, were made redundant at the telecommunications company due to efforts made in reorganizing areas of the company’s business.
Auguste stated in the release late last evening, June 10, 2013 that, “New opportunities are also created out of these changes and BVI nationals who meet the requirements will have an opportunity to fill these jobs that become available in the BVI.”
It remains unclear what measures, if any, or training initiatives were taken towards incorporating the released staff members into any newly created opportunities made by the company as indicated by the General Manager.
According to one person, they are waiting to see who will be chosen to fill the new positions and expressed the view that those same staff laid off should have been trained. "I waiting to see if they going and bring in somebody (expat) when they could have trained their own staff."
Auguste expressed profound regret on behalf of LIME about the impact created through the changes and their effect on the lives of its valued employees.
“We do not take these decisions that impact the lives of our colleagues lightly,” Auguste said. “They have made an important contribution to the development of the company and the communities and we place the highest value on their hard work and dedication. We wish them well as they open a new chapter in their lives.”
In the release, it was noted that the company’s reorganisation efforts were made in order for LIME to deliver more effectively to its customers. Auguste said the company continued to review its operations in order to remain competitive, create more value for customers and continue to deliver a satisfying customer experience.
See previous story posted June 10, 2013:
Locals Janette N. Brin & Karen B. Aaron laid off by LIME!
-General Manager denied that they were fired, says operating adjustments, ‘tweaking’ made positions redundant
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Word reaching Virgin Islands News Online is that Telecommunications giant LIME BVI has laid off two of its local employees.
Janette N. Brin has been relieved of her post as Marketing Manager, while Karen B. Aaron is no longer serving in Regional Finance, with both posts being made redundant.
However, General Manager of LIME BVI, Mr Sean Auguste, has denied that the company is laying off persons following news of the departure of two of the company’s senior staff members.
“A couple of colleagues, because we’re doing a little bit of a restructure, have moved on but it’s not a… we’re not laying off people,” Auguste stated.
The General Manager expressed that some of the roles were changing within the company and told this news site that, while two of the staff members have left, one of the roles will be re-filled.
“It’s just normal operating adjustments… tweaking, it’s not a restructure of LIME BVI,” he said.
Mr Auguste was adamant that the staff members were not fired.
He explained that one of the members, who left LIME BVI, was part of its Regional Finance team which is currently being reorganized. “As a result of that,” Auguste related, “this person’s job, this role in the BVI is redundant.”
In relation to the second position, the General Manager stated, “The second one, we are expanding our roles to cover another Territory.”
He indicated that after going through the necessary procedure, the person previously employed in the local position did not conform to the requirements necessary for the new position.
“The role that we had here is being enlarged to encompass another business, so it’s no longer just BVI, so the BVI role is redundant but it is to be replaced by a role that encompasses BVI and another business,” Auguste disclosed.
Auguste added that there are no deliberate plans currently in place to expand LIME BVI.
In a statement sent out on June 10, 2013 to the media by Ms Brin, she said “It is with great regret that I write to inform you that my position as Marketing Manager at LIME BVI has been made redundant. I'd like to extend a personal thank you to each of you for your assistance over the years”.
Ms Brin also asked that all media related inquires be sent to Mr Sean Auguste, Managing Director BVI.
Meanwhile, Mrs Aaron told Virgin Islands News Online that she knew for some time in advance of the redundancy and understands fully how the process works in the context of a restructure.
“I knew a month in advance the position had become redundant,” Mrs Smith-Aaron said.
She added, “My role basically disappeared when the companies [CWC Cable and Columbus] merged, so I was fully prepared… I had a month’s notice.”
Mrs Smith-Aaron also said she handed over her position happily and didn’t see what the fuss was about. “It’s not a problem,” she stated while noting that the two positions at the company had nothing to do with each other.
The laying off of the two Virgin Islanders comes days after CCT Global Communications let go of some 16 employees by making their posts redundant and blaming competition.
In spite of the many layoffs/downsizing and hardship many small and big companies are facing, the Virgin Islands Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith is still claiming that the economy is good and getting better and robust- a statement strongly disputed by the business community and the man on the street.
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69 Responses to “UPDATE: Questions linger on LIME BVI redundancies”
I was thinking the same thing .. redundant becoming a popular word these days. Seem like creative tricks if you ask me. They had better find a local to fill the new role he talking bout. Prime example of these companies not training the locals - what she didn't have that they couldn't train her for if its just another island?...they need an excuse to bring in someone.
You obviously need to go back to your country but like someone else said your probably a waste there!!!
VINO should do alil more investigating as this is not the 1st set of locals to get "layoff" and position made "Redundant" EL*** is not for the BVI and a Local work force they are very bias and just put up a front in the publics eye but behind close doors its a dog eat dog hair pulling name bashing world feel sorry for the local employees that have to stand all the bull and must work thru it ...EL*** really sour!! PS and who ef*in who to reach to the top lol drama in that place
“I knew a month in advance the position had become redundant,” Mrs Smith-Aaron said.
She added, “My role basically disappeared when the companies [CWC Cable and Columbus] merged, so I was fully prepared… I had a month’s notice.”
Mrs Smith-Aaron also said she handed over her position happily and didn’t see what the fuss was about. “It’s not a problem,” she stated while noting that the two positions at the company had nothing to do with each other.
I think so too but then again she older and probably didn't have a desire or incentive to move any hire in the company. Next to Parsons she is the only local that probably could of been the GM. Weird. Guess she had enough
Who is bawling? And really why are you coming on here talking about your a local and "educate" with that grammar.
Everyone has a right to stand up! There is an issue in our country and its unemployment. The majority of BVI's labor force is held with companies that aren't headquartered here. If they don't higher and train up people where will out people be in the years to come? And we aren't talking about people who aren't educated. These are people that have gone away and educated themselves ... so not understanding your point.
Why wasn't offered training? Suppose attitude and work ethic was a problem? This is what you guys don't seem to understand. If you have an opportunity and you squander it, while there are 20 people out there who meet and exceed the requirements. I'm supposed to bend over backward to train you when you don't want to better yourself, rather than just get a proper person for the job? Now I don't know what happen in this particular instance so I can't say in tis case. But this bull$&*% about why they don't train a local? That's not the company's job. Locals need to be forward thinking and better themselves. Attitude determines ALTITUDE, the piece of paper qualification is not all and that's what you all don't understand. Attitude and work ethic goes a long way and sadly with many qualified people seeking jobs, the free loaders will be taking themselves elsewhere. That's the way the real world works. No company is mandated to train a damn soul, you all crazy? Are they kids? I own a company, I hire you as a manager, you are not pulling your weight, not bettering your self, have a bad attitude towards work and your peers, and instead of getting rid of your backside for someone who will do my work, I'm supposed to kiss your @$Z and train you because you got a Maroon passport or a Belonger card? Get the phuk out of here with that bull$&*@# boss, them days DONE DONE DONE!!!!Always with this weak $h1* about training. I'm a local, I work for expats and I continue to be on the cutting edge, learning, asking questions, showing interest, servicing clients and so forth so when the chopping block comes up they might think twice about letting me go because they might think I have some value to their organization. If I am laid off, tough $2it, I know I work hard and I'll get something probably better down the road. I don't think my organization should be responsible for training me. I should take it upon myself to get trained not get comfortable in a job carrying big title and walking chin up. Ya'll goin' learn todeh!!
If it were an attitude and work ethic problem it would have been on file and grounds made to be fired. This was not the case in this matter. They didn't fire anyone and the Manager admitted to that. "Bish Don't Kill my VIBE" you don't know about Human Resources and running a successful company. The employee came there with a college education. Companies such as LIME who have a brand and image they should teach their employees about the inside running of the company. Infact LIME does have training available within the company. But why is it not made available to everyone especially the young staff is another question. If the company was one that believed that their people were of value they would be doing it reguarly. Perhaps there HR doesn't function as it should. But it would be up to head office to see that they did function to carry out training, and keep moral high. I worked for a large company in the US and they were very big on training and promoting from within.
Some kinda vibe you on!?!? You have obviously never worked for a large company or should I say a well run large company.
Take the Marriott for example. They primarily hire out for entry level positions because they are big on training up their employees so that they can grow in the company.
These type of companies have regular performance evaluations and are consistently educating their staff on new trends and ways in which to grow their individual careers.
I would go as far to say that LIME's current customer service issues speaks volumes on how they manage their staff. If it was as well put together as they would like us to think -- in 2013 as a leading telecoms they would have customer service to the level of some of the best companies in the world. Provide training and required resources consistantly !!!
Trust me that is far from the case in this situation. And if it was the case she would of been fired not made redundant.
But I think if LIME is closer looked at people would see there is more to this thing. Remember LIME use to be a leading employer in BVI and now their staff is down. And people wonder why the customer service is low. You need people to provide service HELLO.
bull ... she was hired and worked well pass the probation so both education and qualifications were met. This is an issue of using redundancy to not keep locals employed and denying them the opportunity for training and/or promotion so that they can bring someone in. Stop trying to make it seem like locals aren't educated, qualified, or trainable. If you really understand training ... its something that is suppose to happen regularly because the world is advancing. And if a company knows the direction they are going they are responsible for training their staff for that direction. Employees could do their own personal thing but that can only take them bout so far since the company would have to inform employees on any new required skill ...
Just because someone is educated doesn't mean they are a good employee! Anyone can go online and get a degree in almost anything. When you work you have to perform and add value to a business. New job means new skills if you don't have the skills to perform the job. Yes that might mean you will be released! Time with a company,status won't mean anything if you can not do the job.
The world is training everyday so I would imagine companies would need to ensure relevant training to ensure staff are current with the specific needs of the company.
BVI Government has the same right as any other country government to ensure that its nationals are given EQUAL OPPORTUNITY and EQUAL OPPORTUNITY doesn't exclude locals from having education, work experience, etc. ....and international companies doing business in any country shouldn't keep the local residents at a disadvantage where they are forced to move away to find jobs.
You don't have that much sense. Marketing & Corporate Communications requires someone on ground. Every island has at least one person on ground doing that job. You think someone going to come to BVI every time LIME have a promotion. JTV going do a interview via satilite
Your own people are jealous of your***.... check it out 40 year old marrying 20 year old (island man) 93 year old marrying 25 year old (islands woman).. can you see even in their old age them aint want them own ppl.
Labour Minister I hope you are looking closely at the redundancy for the Marketing Manager. ****** bring in expat GM over local, expat Sales Manager over local, expat Retail Manager over local and now trying to bring in an expat Marketing Manager. They have not had a local Financial Controller now for years and BVI is managed by an Assistant Finance Manager while the overall responsibility is to an expat CFO. The other postion made redundant was not in BVI so it is not applicable.
Concerned you and others continue to miss the point!!! If LIME is hiring someone to do marketing for BVI and TCI they CANNOT be mandated to hire a local as the person will have cross-border responsibilities. Same with the GM, he's managing multiple offices so you cannot mandate that a BVIslander must hold that job. When will you guys learn common sense? It's the same with the multi-national Trust Companies and Corporations. They are not headquartered in BVI therefore the major decisions for senior management are made overseas. If they already have people within their firm working overseas that they see fit to run the BVI office they are within their right to get that person working in the BVI. When you talk about local senior and mid-management positions then we can advocate for BVIslanders, but when it comes to the top tiered management, a company with just a base here will not consider BVI 'only' when hiring. That would be STUPID!!! Locals don't want Labour telling them who to hire but they want it the other way around. It's not fair. It is just like Ked***k himself said. He has a house worker from G uyana who has become a part of their family. She has worked with him for years and years. He is pleased with her performance and he said nobody can tell him he needs to send her home and hire a BVIslander and HE IS RIGHT. This emotional nonsense only sounds good but it's not practical. BVI people need to understand it's a global village and performance is key. We have been babied for so long that we don't realize that nothing is guaranteed to us we are now surprised we actually have to step out of the comfort zone to be considered. Like someone else said, almost anyone with enough time on their hands can get a degree online in almost any subject. It does not mean they are the right person for the job.
What will be even more interesting is as to "who" will be hired in these positions?
Let's hope our Labour department will be on the lookout for these "newer" positions and their prospective "employees"!
specifically in the interest of locals its not for labor to tell people who to hire but if you read it and understand it ..its to ensure that our local people are given equal and fare opportunity. If it was totally up to Cable & Wireless all the jobs would be on work permit holders. And further note the reason why spouses of expat workers don't work because they cannot. Another measure put in place to further ensure that we locals get opportunities so that there is equality in our country. Labour is also there to protect the rights of expats to ensure they aren't being mistreated either. However that is not a major concern for highly paid expats like Mr. Au....