By Devonne Cornelius
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN) — An employee of the Four Seasons Resort Nevis took to the airwaves to voice their grave dissatisfaction and concern with the delay in the $1000 COVID-19 stimulus assistance.
The employee was at the time speaking on the Tuesday, October 13 edition of Leadership Matters with Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris.
The frustrated employee said “We have been home now for three months and every time we call, they’ve been telling us we’ll be getting the package. The last time they said we’ll be getting it on the 25th of September, we’re now in October. So we are trying to find out what is the problem with Nevis. Nevis is not getting their fair share”.
Additionally, the employee stated, “I called this afternoon [October 13] and the lady said that the cheques are there, but they are waiting on a call to say whether or not to give out the cheques”.
Director of the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board, Antonio Maynard, in his response to the agitated employee said, “I want to ensure those employees that their stimulus for September will be paid to them. These employees were laid off in August, and not necessarily in April, May, and June, but they were actually laid off in August. And so, therefore, I was told that cheques have already been dispatched to Nevis today [October 13] for those particular Four Seasons workers”.
The five-diamond resort which employed close to 700 persons managed to retain all employees and paid 100% of their salaries in April and May, and 60% in June and July. However, due to continued loss of business, they were forced to issue to More than 400 employees their letters of temporary layoffs effective August 01, 2020.
The letter said “due to unforeseeable, unexpected, and sudden reduced business levels as a result of COVID-19, Four Seasons Resort Nevis has had to recognize the staffing structure of the hotel. Unfortunately, the consequence of this is that you will be on Temporary Lay Off, effective August 1, 2020. During the period while you are Temporarily Laid Off, your life and medical insurance will remain paid at 100%, excluding the supplemental payments for your dependents”.
The letter which was signed by the resort’s General Manager, Mrs. Yvette Thomas-Henry, and the Director of People and Culture (Human Resources), Mrs. Ivet Beltram, further indicated that “throughout the temporary laid off period, you remain an active Four Seasons employee”.
With St. Kitts and Nevis re-opening their borders on October 31, the 29-year-old resort said in a statement on their website that they will be welcoming guests back on November 01, 2020, however, it is unclear as to how many employees will return to work.
