By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday dismissed rumours that her family has a business interest in the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort.

The false reports circulated over the weekend as discontent continues to swell over her decision to issue a nolle prosequi to stop a private prosecution against the hotel and two of its senior executives.

“My family has no shop space nor any business interest at Sandals,” she said, responding to questions from The Tribune.

In April, Columbian Emeralds International opened a new store at Sandals LaSource Resort in Grenada.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson’s husband, Maxwell Gibson, is the franchisee for Columbian Emeralds International’s locations in Nassau and Freeport.

The attorney general told The Tribune that her husband had shop space at Sandals Royal Bahamian in the past, but could not recall the time period. She insisted there were no present ties to the resort.

The nolle order halted the action launched against the resort, its general manager, Gary Williams, and financial controller, Fitzroy Walker, by five officers of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union (BHMAWU) who had alleged that Sandals Royal Bahamian was in breach of the Industrial Relations Act by failing/refusing to “treat or enter into negotiations” with the union.

They had also claimed that the resort, Mr Williams and Mr Walker, had violated the Industrial Tribunal Relations Act by intimidating and terminating employees. The resort, and its executives, had denied all allegations.

Much of the public outcry over the nolle has hinged on the fact that it was signed on August 15, the same day the hotel terminated more than 600 employees.

However, in response to the pushback, the Office of the Attorney General released a statement Thursday night clarifying that the order did not come into effect until it was entered in the Magistrate’s Court on September 19.

In her statement, Mrs Maynard-Gibson made it clear that she would not be swayed “by the political objectives of her colleagues or anyone else” in the execution of her constitutional duty.

She went on to explain that civil proceedings were underway in the Supreme Court between BHMAWU and the resort.

“Civil proceedings are continuing in the Supreme Court between the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and Allied Workers Union and Sandals in relation to the continued existence of the union and whether Sandals should be obliged, in the circumstances, to negotiate with the union,” the statement said.

“Another action is before the Supreme Court on the matter of whether the Sandals employees were unfairly dismissed. The union, not the state, also commenced in the Magistrate’s Court, a private prosecution against some of Sandals’ managers.”

It continued: “Persons are being held accountable through the legal process in the Supreme Court, where appropriate sanctions are available.

“One of the objectives being pursued by the government in meetings with Mr Obie Ferguson and other trade unionists was the attempt to encourage Sandals to negotiate an industrial agreement notwithstanding the Supreme Court action.

“The entering of the said nolle prosequi does not prevent nor does it compromise further meetings and continued efforts of the minister of labour, or anyone else in the government, in relation to this goal and a successful outcome,” her statement added.

Since the order was made public last week, the attorney general has come under fire from the labour movement and the Official Opposition - both groups have called for her immediate resignation - as well as her Cabinet colleagues.

Last week in an article published in The Nassau Guardian, Labour Minister Shane Gibson said he was disappointed that Mrs Maynard-Gibson did not notify him of the decision as he and other government officials were actively working to resolve issues between the resort and the union.

His stance was supported by Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, and Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, with both senior ministers stating that the move sent the “wrong message”.

Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts has stated that the political organisation backs her decision.