By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

LABOUR Director Robert Farquharson insisted yesterday that his department’s investigation involving Atlantis is “nothing new”.

“This is not the first time. We’ve conducted investigations into Atlantis before,” he said yesterday.

Labour representatives recently visited Atlantis and submitted survey cards asking staff if they feel intimidated or obligated to lobby against the RCI project.

The Labour department investigated Atlantis after some employees allegedly complained that they felt “pressured and intimidated” to stand against Royal Caribbean International’s proposed Paradise Island Beach Club project. Atlantis president and managing director Audrey Oswell had urged staff in a letter to take a position concerning the $100m project.

Mr Farquharson said the department would complete its investigation this week, having compiled all the data needed.

“We launch investigations routinely when there is unfair treatment of employees,” he said, adding this is done for “various reasons”, including violations of bargaining agreements or breaches of employee rights.

 “When the union was banned off the Atlantis property, we went into Atlantis and conducted interviews,” he added. “Employees have rights. When they feel their rights are violated, they complain and we investigate.

 “In that investigation, Atlantis had a Supreme Court action. We couldn’t do anything about it because it was in the courts. We determined their rights were not being violated.”

 Mr Farquharson acknowledged that the example could not be compared to the current investigation.

 Last week, Atlantis senior vice-president of government affairs and special projects Vaughn Roberts said the government’s actions disheartened the resort’s executives.

 “We’re concerned not so much from what the survey will say; If anything, we’re just concerned with the approach,” he said. “We view ourselves as an important corporate citizen in The Bahamas. We’re the largest private entity here and we’ve had a very good relationship with the Department of Labour, certainly The Bahamas government for many years of our development and operation and this was just a bit of a surprise for us.”