WORKERS at the Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT), continued their protest action for the third day, following a breakdown in negotiations as the government prepares to establish a new marketing and promotional institution.

The workers are protesting against plans related to the soon-to-be established Grenada Tourism Authority.

It was announced that with the changes, several positions will be made redundant but it is expected that current employees will receive first preference through an application process with the Grenada Tourism Authority .

On Thursday morning Chester Humphrey, President General of the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) which represents the workers, was not specific as to the root of the contention but said issues will be discussed during a meeting at the Ministry of Labour.

“We are all meeting this morning, the matter was sent to the Labour Commissioner but in the mean time workers will be continuing as we did yesterday,” he said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Tourism said that the Government respects the rights and privileges of all workers in Grenada, but expressed surprise at the stance taken by the workers.

According to the ministry, the Government and in particular the committee that has been set up to oversee the establishment of the Grenada Tourism Authority — an organisation that the union has fully endorsed and supported — “has not at any time during this process sought, in any way, to disadvantage the staffers of the GBT”.

“It therefore came as a complete shock to the Principals of the GBT and the members of the Committee charged with overseeing the creation and establishment of the GTA, that negotiations had broken down to the point where any kind of industrial action was warranted,” the Ministry of Tourism said.

“It is even more disconcerting that in the midst of an ongoing and fluid negotiation process and in particular regarding a matter central to the negotiations that has been referred to the Ministry of Labour for its guidance, counsel and resolution, that even before the matter has been heard this kind of action has been mounted,” the statement continued.

“It is for this reason that we have followed the letter of the law in respect of the retrenchment of the Staff of the GBT and have agreed to compensate all employees in respect of their full rights and privileges under the Laws of Grenada and in particular the Grenada Labour Code, as it relates to the closure of a commercial entity and as prescribed in the Law of the land,” the statement said.

The Grenada Board of Tourism was established by legislation and the new body will also be established by legislation which is yet to be presented to the Parliament for approval by Dr Keith Mitchell administration. It was initially presented during the former Tillman Thomas administration but withdrawn.

The authority is scheduled to begin operations in December.

— CMC