The situation at Buccament Bay Resort is so bad that a lawsuit to ensure the payment of workers who have not received wages or salaries for three months is likely to come up empty.
Accountant Brian Glasgow, who the High Court, in a special sitting on Saturday appointed proposal trustee for Harlequin Property Ltd., owners of the resort, says while it is outside him ambit, he is concerned about the situation affecting the workers.
Glasgow is tasked with securing the assets of the Harlequin after Buccament Bay Resort closed on Wednesday when its electricity was disconnected for non-payment.
Some reports have put the amount the resort owes to state-owned electricity company VINLEC at EC$1.6 million, a figure Glasgow said he has not been able to verify with VINLEC, even as he noted that the figure hasn’t been disputed.
Glasgow explained to iWitness News on Monday that his appointment, which is under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, extends only to Harlequin.
He said that the law sees a distinction between Harlequin and the Buccament Bay Resort Ltd., the company that was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the resort.
He, however, said that the monies owed to workers were a common concern.
‘That is something that concerns all of us and as I have explained elsewhere, my jurisdiction is only over Harlequin Property Ltd. At the same time, you cannot be insensitive to the fact that there are people engaged who have not been paid.
“There are employees who have not been paid and, like anybody else in my position would do, even though you don’t have the right to demand that they be paid, you would ask questions. I’ve asked questions, and, to the extent that I could indicate how important it is for people to be paid, I have done that,” Glasgow told iWitness News.
The resort closed two weeks after some employees began protesting daily, saying that they would have only suspended their industrial action when their wages are paid.
But, with Christmas, less than a week away, the employees’ worst fear — a holiday season without payment — seems closer to reality.
Glasgow explained:
“Harlequin owns the property but the employees work for the operating company, that is the company that does the operation. I have not seen any evidence to suggest that the operating company has any assets of substance. I have not seen anything to suggest that it is a sueable company; in other words, if you sue them, you’d get money to pay off all the employees.
“But I am aware that efforts are being made by the various stakeholders to ensure that the employees are paid the outstanding amounts,” Glasgow said, but did not elaborate.
As proposal trustee, Glasgow will examine the proposals of the company, and, to the extent that he thinks that the proposal is workable, he would advise the court and if the court so directs, he then, along with the company, put the proposal to creditors.
The government must be responsible for this. These are the type of shady characters we have investing in this country. Why haven’t we been able to attract the reputable people in the business? Where are the Holiday Inn’s and the others? We are going to end up the same way with the Peter’s Hope deal. Instead of lease we have sold those lands. Great grand children of former slave owners selling our patrimony to other great grand children if former slave owners. One morning we will wake up and find ourselves fighting for abolition of slavery again
At the end of the day, the only people who will get any money from Harlequin/Buccament resort will be: the Ames family who surely have millions that can’t be touched by any of this; all the layers for all the investors and others; and the accounts like Brian Glasgow.
And whose fault will this be? Don’t ask Ralph because he will repeat that this is simply the nature of business investment — sometimes you win, sometimes you lose but Labour love will be here forever.
So what is the government doing to help the workers and the stranded tourists? No excuses! The government is there to protect the people of SVG and the tourist industry from abuse. Right now both are in the same cesspool as the Government.
You say, “Why havent we been able to attract the reputable people in the business?”
Answer: Don’t think that we haven’t tried but with no success because we don’t have anything to attract them for. Read my essays to find out why.
https://www.iwnsvg.com/2016/12/11/why-bequia-is-a-gem-of-the-antilles/
You say, “Where are the Holiday Inns and the others?”
Answer: They wouldn’t fart pon we. Why not? We are beneath their notice. In what way? Again, read my essays and those of others.
All we are good for on the mainland is people like Dave Ames. Conversely, our wondrous Grenadines have attracted a lot of reputable local and foreign investors for decades. Why is that? Again, read my essays!