Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Vaccine policy @ Leverick Bay Resort was shared with Labour Ministry- Flax-Brutus

-after staff resistance to vaccinate, submit to swabs or stay home for initial 90 days
Company Director of Operations, Sharon P. Flax-Brutus has indicated that the policy was shared with government authorities before it was circulated. Photo: Facebook/File
Staff at the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina, the Leverick Restaurant, Virgin Gorda Villas, and The Chief's Pantry were given an ultimatum to either vaccinate for COVID-19 or be subjected to third party COVID-19 every 14 days, or be laid off for an initial period of 90-days should they not accept the policy. Photo: Facebook
Staff at the Leverick Bay Resort and Marina, the Leverick Restaurant, Virgin Gorda Villas, and The Chief's Pantry were given an ultimatum to either vaccinate for COVID-19 or be subjected to third party COVID-19 every 14 days, or be laid off for an initial period of 90-days should they not accept the policy. Photo: Facebook
In a May 5, 2021, letter seen by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) written by Christina Yates, the founder of the group, she told staff that they now have a choice to either follow the policy or be laid-off. Photo: Team of Reporters
In a May 5, 2021, letter seen by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) written by Christina Yates, the founder of the group, she told staff that they now have a choice to either follow the policy or be laid-off. Photo: Team of Reporters
LEVERICK BAY, Virgin Gorda, VI – Following news that staff members at Leverick Bay Resort and associated companies were given an ultimatum to either vaccinate for COVID-19 or be subjected to third party COVID-19 testing out of pocket every 14 days, Company Director of Operations, Sharon P. Flax-Brutus has indicated that the policy was shared with government authorities before it was circulated.

In a letter dated May 5, 2021 and written by Christina Yates, the founder of the group, she told staff that they now have a choice to either follow the policy or be laid-off.

Staff who refuse the policy will be laid off for an initial period of 90-days, according to the letter seen by Virgin Islands News Online.

In an audio recording obtained by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), Flax-Brutus, a former Director of Tourism, told staff in a meeting that the vaccine policy was vetted before it was sent to staff.

Labour Dep't was made privy to policy 

“Before that letter was shared with employees, that letter was shared with the Labour Department, it was shared with the Government Ministers, and it was legally vetted,’ she said in response to a disgruntled staff who asked whether the policy was supported by the government.

Flax-Brutus told staff that at the end of the day, the choice is up to employees whether they want to follow the policy or not, and that a choice must be made to either stay and deal with the rules or make a conscious decision on what is best.

She, however, noted that the option for staff to stay home is not one the company wants to see happen.

“Initially I was one of those who was hesitant about being vaccinated, I would be honest… and I read till I couldn’t read anymore, positives, negatives… reached out to my friends who were doctors and say what should it do?” she said.

In a convincing plea to get staff to vaccinate, Mrs Flax-Brutus said eventually she was given the opportunity to take the vaccine and got vaccinated, given she felt that it was important for her peace of mind.

Company working to reduct cost of COVID-19 testing 

“I am not going to leave my health and safety up to a housekeeper or someone who doesn’t want to be vaccinated, goes into a villa and exposes themselves,” she said.

For staff who do not agree with the policy, Flax-Brutus said she is not forcing anyone to take the vaccine, but a fourth option is available where she would gladly write a letter for a staff to seek employment elsewhere, at a place with a less stringent policy.

36 Responses to “Vaccine policy @ Leverick Bay Resort was shared with Labour Ministry- Flax-Brutus ”

  • Joy & Wide (19/05/2021, 13:13) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply
    Wow
  • Vaccinated (19/05/2021, 14:56) Like (20) Dislike (7) Reply
    Sad that we have come to this. Then we say Lord Lord. We want to reduce the cost of testing is the concern. How about people's human rights to chose their health care. Seriously! Word to the wise not testing while being vaccinated does not mean we are not infected. It simply means we're not recorded. Please stop acting like we who are vaccinated are not a danger to those who are not. If we get nasty with our hygiene and physical distancing we are more dangerous than those practicing proper hygiene and physical distancing. There has to be a gray ground and threaten people's livelihood because we can is shameful. Question for the experts- how soon after the 2nd Jab will we need to get the Boosters?
  • Young Citizen (19/05/2021, 14:58) Like (35) Dislike (5) Reply
    I question what vaccination policy do you have for your guest visiting. There needs to be a balance of scale on this matter and how you treat everyone (guests and employees). I am certain not every guest is vaccinated (considering their age, the existence of underlying health condition or existence of relevant antibodies) and these persons can contract it from the party(ies) they are traveling with or other guests, including those who received negative testing results initially, but on the exiting test are found to be positive. I know blood clots are a common concern in my family, for my grandmother, my mom and myself (although I am in my 30's old and not overweight) and for this reason I will not be taking the vaccine at this time. Also, since I know not enough is known about the vaccine because it is still in its infancy and so I will not act in haste to take it. Though I must say, if the one of China's vaccine were here, i would quicker take it since they used the old method to develop the vaccines.

    There must be other solutions on placement of employees who wish not to take the vaccine. Subjecting someone to COVID-19 tests frequently is a red flag for me. In heightens there chances of coming into contact with some who may have COVID-19 when getting tested or there is a chance also to receive false positives for which s/he will have to deal with unwarranted reactions from third parties, until the truth if exposed.

    Suggestions to implement (one or more)

    1. The establishment should consider shifting those staff to departments with little or no contact with guests who are vaccinated, especially if they are long time employees with good work ethics.

    2. If you are positive that all guests the employee has to interact with have been vaccinated and the guests have not expressed their concern to only be served by only vaccinated persons there should be less of a concern to be vaccinated. Permit employees who wishes to remain vaccinated sign some kind of waiver that s/he will not hold his or her employer liable should s/he get sick. Also have them adhere to the similar rules of wearing face masks, proper hand wahsing and all the other rules implemented before a vaccine came into existence.

    3. Have those vaccinated also randomly tested to determine if the recommendation 2 above needs to be revised and stricter rules implemented. Vaccinated employees can still spread COVID-19, therefore your vaccination policy needs to be revised to consider this point.

    4. Keep record of those guests who later tested positive for COVID-19 and adjust your protocols accordingly. Guest vaccinated vs. unvaccinated. Staff vaccinated vs. unvaccinated and whether they contracted it (due to contact with a guest) yes or no. Your policy needs to be dynamic based on the data.

    5. Take note of the Tri-state. See whether their approach works. They have just re-opened and whether the person is vaccinated or not tourist will be visiting and if you are unvaccinated you are asked to remain with your mask on.

    I question how many of our lawyers specialised in medicine and human rights to be giving legal opinions on your matter about termination of staff and risk management (health). In the US I know it not uncommon for a nurse/doctor/scientist to become a paralegal/attorney who are better suited to advise on this matter. Our doctors here only know what they are being told about the vaccine from the outside and are not experts on this matter either. What might be good for you might not be good for all. We are in uncharted waters and sometimes we have to be slow and steady to win the race. We have to be leaders and not followers and make sound decisions not just based on dollars and cents.


    • @ young citizen (19/05/2021, 19:38) Like (10) Dislike (21) Reply
      or.... people who don't want to get vaccinated could leave. Problem solved!
    • Rubber Duck (20/05/2021, 04:54) Like (14) Dislike (14) Reply
      Who needs all that. Just get vaccinated , simple. No jab, no job. That’s the new reality. Your choice.
  • BUSINESS EMPLOYERS HAVE CONSTITUTIONA RIGHTS TOO.L RIGHTS (19/05/2021, 15:03) Like (51) Dislike (21) Reply
    BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHTS TO PROTECT THEIR INVESTMESTS. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED., BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THE BUSINESS OWNERS RIGHTS.
    • Observer (19/05/2021, 20:09) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      @Business Employers...There are conventions and Human Rights policies for CARICOM countries, which we should google. They protect the human, religious and other basic rights of each citizen to make choices such as these (to vaccinate/not vaccinate). It therefore, behooves Government leaders of CARICOM countries and all others, to not just become familiar with these Human Rights conventions/policies, but to consult with their respective Attorney Generals and Human Rights representatives, and seek to indemnify themselves from the very real consequences, that violating people's basic human rights, can result in.
  • hello hello (19/05/2021, 15:05) Like (29) Dislike (39) Reply
    Money buys any thing. . . lost all respect for Sharon. Slavery is alive and well in North Sound.
  • gfdfdggfdgfdgfdg (19/05/2021, 15:25) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just wait and see. Many will wonder. You people are sick.
  • Worker (19/05/2021, 15:41) Like (19) Dislike (12) Reply
    what about my civil rights
    • Reader (19/05/2021, 20:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Worker...Indeed.
    • Dr no (20/05/2021, 05:02) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
      They don’t include the right to spread disease
      • Worker (20/05/2021, 12:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        Ok so you took the vaccine for your protection then why worry about others are you not protected? You are now PROTECTED!
    • Thinker (20/05/2021, 06:58) Like (8) Dislike (10) Reply
      You have rights, but you have obligations too to society. By not getting vaccinated, you are a bigger risk to society, the NHI, hospital staff, etc. If you don't want to get vaccinated, go live in a cave by yourself.
      • P (22/05/2021, 03:02) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        We dont have no rights in the BVI we put in People who aint going to stsnd up for us. This should not happen under Andrew watch. Who say we in this together. It seems as policy make up as we go. Where is the Labour Minister and the Labour code.
  • Thoughts (19/05/2021, 15:42) Like (36) Dislike (9) Reply
    I was surprised when she said the letter to employees was legally vetted. By whom I wonder! If it was, then the whoever looked at it would realize that there is nothing in the Labour Code that would allow an employer to lay off an employee for a period of 90 days or at all in these circumstances - where the employee determines not to be vaccinated. Under the Labour Code, an employee can be laid off essentially when there is no work for him/her. That is it. They may be able to suspend the employee but that can only be for a short period so it is easy to see why the employer has chosen to go under a layoff. A decision by an employee not to take a vaccine is also not a ground for terminating the employee’s employment...certainly not under the Labour Code. The employer’s actions can be challenged for sure both under the Labor Code and probably under the constitution. Employees don’t take this lying down. Find the means to challenge what is going on as it is wrong!
    • @Thought (19/05/2021, 22:59) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
      The code clearly states where the employer has to right to ensure health and safety of ALL workers! Regardless of what you believe, you are entitled to that belief but COVID has been classified as a pandemic and therefore asking for workers to be vaccinated against the virus becomes more of a health issue than one of labour. It is a slippery slope but at the end of the day nobody is forcing them to stay with a business that wants them to be vaccinated.
      • Thoughts (20/05/2021, 06:43) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
        I think you meant to say that an employer is under an obligation to ensure safety in the workplace per the Labour Code. How do you interpret those provisions to allow the employer to make it mandatory for an employee to take a vaccine? Those particular provisions are clear and unambiguous and generally require that the employer must provide a safe place of work for employees - so make sure that the employee won’t be injured while on the job, that there are adequate bathroom facilities, that the employee is permitted to take adequate breaks that sort of thing. I maintain that there is no legal basis in the Labour Code for what this employer Leverick Bay resort is doing. It is interesting that the letter to employees was also reviewed by the Labour dept who clearly agreed with the proposed course of action by the employer. It goes to show that the government isn’t going to intervene in such matters for the sake of private sector employees. Of course they would never impose the same conditions on public servants as they know better. We are living in interesting times.
  • taxpayer (19/05/2021, 15:49) Like (21) Dislike (46) Reply
    All businesses must make it mandatory to get their employees get vaccinated otherwise the businesses may go bankrupt and as well as country soon
  • we (19/05/2021, 15:53) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Expect this in the bvi. The result when the politicians sell out the people to the highest bidder. And some times it could be apartment on compound or once a month occupancy on the compound. This is how they regard the people!!
  • Hmm (19/05/2021, 15:57) Like (34) Dislike (9) Reply
    God don’t like ugly, she sees how her track record looks in past employments...don’t worry it’ll be today for the employees tomorrow for her, her time is coming.
    • Stop Hating (19/05/2021, 18:42) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
      Who signed the Letter??, You all are a bunch of local people haters. The owner of the company signed that letter. The owner made the final decision. NOT THE LOCAL
  • Ghost (19/05/2021, 16:30) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    I blame dr Pickering he gave the labor rule online nobody new until he read it on safety at the work place in the labor code which speaks on that lord Jah help is
  • Ok but (19/05/2021, 16:45) Like (21) Dislike (7) Reply
    Now that you are vaccinated.
    Does it prevent you from contracting the virus?

    Why are they even calling IT a vaccine ?
    When it clearly not .....
    • Blahblahblah (20/05/2021, 07:23) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Yup, keep up the willfully ignorant trash talk.
      Noone has ever said that the vaccine will prevent an infection, BUT WHAT IS PROVEN IS THAT THE INFECTION WON'T
      PROGRESS TO A SERIOUS CONDITION AND KILL YOU.
      Just like a seatbelt won't prevent an accident, but it will prevent you from flying thru the windshield and dying on the road.
      Don't wear your seatbelt either? That's OK, Darwin is waiting for you.
    • @ok but (20/05/2021, 08:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are so right, its NOT a vaccine, its more like a shot, like the flu shot; wherein it needs an annual dose.
  • G.O.A.T (19/05/2021, 16:49) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    I like ppl like them so.Y’all like take advantage of people.Dont worry time longer than twine.
  • Madussa (19/05/2021, 17:05) Like (33) Dislike (4) Reply
    So, she took her time getting the vaccine after she read, felt comfortable with it and then took it. That was her choice, everyone is still not comfortable having unproven garbage injected into them. So now that she decided to take it, she thinks everyone should? This is so 2 faced, disappointing and dangerous. I'm done with the people who feel you should follow the masses, and possibly die from this unproven crap. Time will only show the effects of taking this, and then too late, lights out!
  • REGGIE MILLER (19/05/2021, 17:08) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    The masters put a born here in the lead to drive home the point ....a bunch of keys some perks and the show gets on the road smh
  • Border Security (19/05/2021, 17:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    no wonder people dealing dope
  • OH WOW (19/05/2021, 17:45) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    They are doing exactly what they say they are not doing. Forcing their employees to take the vaccine. What do you think a ultimatum is? Which employee wants to be out of a job in these hard crucial times? No one. So what will happen is these very employees will have no choice but to take the vaccine to keep their job to be able to provide for their families. This is just sad! Evil seem to be prevailing But God! We no longer live in a democratic society this is communist/dictatorship society. May God have mercy on us all.
  • options (19/05/2021, 18:39) Like (13) Dislike (11) Reply
    They also have the option to test every two weeks. They also refused this
  • Worker (20/05/2021, 06:55) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    The staff work 8 hours a week,the cost of the covid test every to weeks cost $70.00. we get dog treatment in this company
  • Dr Doom (20/05/2021, 11:26) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    I hope none of the anti vax folk ever need treatment for a tumour. The ingredients of chemo would blow their minds
  • Linda (21/05/2021, 15:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Dr Doom, you are no doctor or you would know that you too can get activated cancer. The ingredients in the chemo is dangerous as the ingredients in the vaccine. Shut your stupid trap because everyone is born with cancer cells. It is only when the cells start growing is when the person will suffer from it. Oh, you didn’t know you had cancer cell in you? Stop preaching and allow people to live their lives the happiest they can.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.