By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian musicians yesterday argued that they remain unemployed while foreign entertainers are permitted by the Government to work at major New Providence resorts.

Fred Munnings, of the United Artists Bahamas Union, sought to sound the alarm over such practices by asserting that its members and other musicians made several attempts to meet with Ministry of Labour officials on the matter only to be told that Sandals is permitted to bring in foreign entertainers under its Heads of Agreement.

He said: “We have had several meetings with the Ministry of Labour, Robert Farquharson (director of labour) and representatives of the United Artists Bahamas Union. To date, we have no resolution. We have met with representatives of RIU, who have foreign dancers, displacing Bahamian dancers. We have made several attempts to meet with Sandals. They have refused to meet with us.

“The Ministry of Labour has told us that Sandals is entitled to bring in the foreign dancers because it’s a part of their Heads of Agreement, which is a bunch of foolishness in my opinion, because if there are Bahamians who are qualified, as they are, to provide this entertainment in this country - to give the visitors a Bahamian experience - I see no reason why foreign entertainers should be allowed into this country.”

Mr Munnings added that labour officials are aware of the “discomfort” artists feel over the situation. He said Obie Ferguson, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president and prominent labour attorney, will be representing the union in seeking a resolution to this issue.

He said: “We expressed this to the minister himself [Keith Bell], and to the director of labour, and we’ve expressed discomfort with what’s happening at RIU and other resorts in this country but, to-date, no satisfaction. Sandals outright refused to meet with any union in this country. That is an abomination. And it will stop.

“We said this to the minister. Mr Ferguson has represented our position to the highest authority in this country. And, trust me, Sandals will meet and treat with the union representatives in this country. They don’t run this country. This is the Bahamas. You for me, I for you. That’s our motto.”

Mr Munnings also criticised labour officials for allowing foreign entertainers to perform at resorts as parts of special events or conventions without including Bahamian sound or light engineers. He added that a recent group imported “millions and millions” of dollars of equipment that could have been locally sourced.

He added: “Now, with respect to entertainment generally in this country, we have all kinds of foreign entertainment being brought into this country under the disguise of coming in as a part of a convention, or a special event, or whatever thing of some sort and they end up performing.

“We have protested. We have brought this to the attention of the Ministry of Labour. Nothing is being done. About three weeks ago, a company came into this country with millions and millions of dollars of sound and light equipment that we know can be provided locally.

“We brought it to the attention of the Ministry of Labour and Immigration; nothing happened. This foolishness will stop in this country. There are too many Bahamians qualified, highly qualified, that are being denied their rightful place in this country. “

Mr Munnings said Bahamian artists are treated as “second class” citizens in a country whose tourism industry was built on the success of live band night clubs.

He added: “There were more than 40 nightclubs operating successfully in New Providence alone. And it was because of some of the proprietors of those nightclubs that the fledgling PLP party was able to get to the point where they were because they financed their rallies etc. But now we’re being treated like second class citizens in our own country. That will stop.”

Mr Farquharson declined to respond to the union’s allegations. However, he did reveal that labour officials are working with the union to ensure that when there is a qualified Bahamian available to take on a vacancy, no work permit or labour certificates will be issued. He added that it is an ‘ongoing situation’ with the hospitality sector.

He said: “I’m not going to comment on an ongoing situation. We know what it says; that the Department of Labour in conjunction with our industry partners, which includes that organisation, is working to ensure that section 86 of the Industrial Relations Act is followed. Whenever there is a qualified Bahamian, no work permit or labour certificate will be issued. And we are working in partnership with them. It’s an ongoing situation with the hospitality sector.”

Mr Bell addressed the issue of resorts requesting permission for foreign entertainers in May at the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) breakfast in May.

He said that although the entertainment in resorts should be reserved for Bahamians, many hotels have requested with justification why they should be permitted to employ foreign entertainers. He added that he has met with, and told, unions that they must address issues within their organisations before being a part of the consultation process.

He said: “There’s certain areas in the music industry that you will preserve strictly for Bahamians, but a number of the hotels, for example, are bringing them in. They bring in dancers, they bring in the artisans, they bring in everybody, or they are trying to bring them in. And they have written the justifications as to why these people are needed.

“The musicians and entertainers unions, I told them quite frankly, the two of them, that we are prepared to consult with you but you have got to get yourself together first. How can I be consulting with you before I issue these things or look at these things, and I know there’s a lot of issues and challenges and concerns within your organisations.”