It is far too long: Pay them their severance

A call has been made by Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace for the former employees of St Vincent Bottlers Limited to receive their severance payments.{{more}}

Eustace made the call yesterday, while speaking on the New Times radio program.

“I have been making some inquiries into the matter and it is something that needs to be dealt with,” Eustace said.

“It is far too long now that this is outstanding – far too long,” he continued.

Eustace was adamant that a decision needed to be taken to pay the affected persons what was owed to them.

“A number of those persons have worked there for many years…and something needs to be done to give them their severance,” Eustace said, adding that it was the requirement of the law to do so.

He further contended that he had not heard anything from the owners, adding that some people may have worked with the company for as many as 20 or 30 years, and that the severance payment may have been money they needed for their future plans.

According to Eustace, he did not know what the situation was regarding the assets of the company, but expressed the view that they were just “dwindling” away.

“Now is the time to deal with the workers. In fact, it has passed the time when they had the hope that the company was reopening last year August,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

This is the latest development, following a statement made by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves at a press conference in June last year, when he announced that the company was expected to reopen its doors in August 2011.

The prime minister blamed the closure of the plant on a series of events, which included the international financial crisis, along with local and regional competition and management and investment decisions.

Gonsalves said that the government and the owners of the company had been working together to reopen the plant.

The issue was raised as the prime minister refuted claims that it was the government’s fault that the soft drink company had folded.

“I heard the opposition say that the government is to be blamed for the closure of Bottlers…. what they should do is simply enquire what is happening….

“In fact, I believe that if you were to contact Margaret Ferrari (Director of Bottlers Ltd.)… she will tell you that, contrary to what has been mouthed on opposition radio station, that we have been very supportive of Bottlers staying on their feet.

“I am determined not to permit untruth and falsehoods to go around the world before truth can put on the shoes when the opposition speak in a manner which is lacking in such basic honesty and truthfulness,” the Prime Minister added. (DD)