By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER lecturer at LJM Maritime Academy has been awarded $16,666.65 in damages for the loss of annual bonuses over a five-year period following a court ruling.

Alvin Hepburn, who joined the academy in 2014, was entitled to an annual bonus of up to one month’s salary for satisfactory performance. However, the court found he was not paid these bonuses between 2015 and 2019, leading to the awarded damages.

Mr Hepburn’s lawsuit also sought compensation for lost wages, severance, cost-of-living increases, and damages for wrongful dismissal. He claimed he performed additional duties equivalent to those of a dean without additional pay and disputed changes to his working hours, arguing he had been allowed flexible scheduling to accommodate his part-time lecturing at the University of The Bahamas.

Brendamae Cleare, president of LJM Maritime Academy, acknowledged allowing some flexibility but said Hepburn’s frequent absences became disruptive. The academy eventually offered him a part-time faculty role at an hourly rate instead.

Justice Camille Darville-Gomez dismissed Mr Hepburn’s claims for breach of contract, wrongful dismissal, and unfair dismissal but ruled in his favour regarding the unpaid bonuses, awarding damages based on his monthly salary of $3,333.33.