By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government's labour director yesterday revealed he has called for "heads to roll at the highest level" on a cruise line's private Bahamian island amid claims that several senior staff were terminated.

Howard Thompson, who was contacted after staff reported three senior executives were yesterday fired at Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Great Stirrup Cay, told Tribune Business that he and another Department of Labour investigator are travelling to the Berry Islands destination today due to the "urgency" of the situation.

The Department of Labour has been planning to visit Great Stirrup Cay for several weeks, after receiving multiple complaints prior to Easter about non-compliance with labour laws and claims that both Bahamian and expatriate staff are being "unfairly treated". It appears that the long-promised visit, and probe into the accusations, is now about to happen.

Mr Thompson told this newspaper: "I am on a flight in the morning [today] with a counterpart from the Department of Labour. I am on a plane in the morning there, and have made a request to management for heads to roll. That's as much as I can say at the moment.

"I've asked for heads at the highest level to roll. I'm going there in the morning because of the urgency. I've sent a communication to Great Stirrup Cay requesting heads to roll at the highest level. I've communicated that I'm expecting heads to roll at the highest level in The Bahamas. I'm expecting nothing but heads to roll at that level."

NCL did not respond to Tribune Business requests seeking comment before press time last night. However, this newspaper was yesterday informed by sources at the Berry Islands destination that its island director, operations manager, food and beverage director and at least one other person in a managerial position were yesterday summarily "terminated without cause" after NCL executives arrived on the island.

One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the firings were "retaliation" against those thought to have spoken out to the Department of Labour and had been expected. They said those terminated were escorted by security to pack up their belongings and taken off Great Stirrup Cay before being flown to Nassau. They are due to depart The Bahamas today.

Another contact, accusing the Department of Labour of "foot dragging" in visiting and launching an investigation into employee complaints, voiced fears that key witnesses and evidence will no longer be present or accessible with remaining staff keeping silent because they did not want to suffer the same fate.

"Our suspicions came true. They came this morning," one source said of the NCL executives, who were said to have arrived on Great Stirrup Cay accompanied by the cruise line's Bahamian agent and representative. "When they called we put one and one together."

They added that the terminated employees were "escorted by security to pack-up and moved out ASAP", although the island director was given several days to wind-up his affairs. "This is all because we were crying for the Department of Labour to come and investigate this matter. We knew they would pull this stunt and retaliate, and cut-off anyone who spoke out," they added.

"We knew this was coming. The Department of Labour was dragging their feet. We expected them to pull this stunt. They had to jump the gun and cut-off whoever spoke out before the Department of Labour reached. If those people are gone, and the Department of Labour comes, there will be nobody to speak up."

Previous correspondence sent to Tribune Business by Great Stirrup Cay employees alleged that they have been working 70-hour work weeks, in excess of the Employment Act’s 40-hour work week, without being paid overtime or receiving holiday or vacation pay in breach of Bahamian law and regulations.

These claims were corroborated by Mr Thompson, who said the Department of Labour had received similar complaints that it is now probing. Subsequent letters from the same sources claimed the problems date back to mid-2023 when NCL and Great Stirrup Cay's management company purportedly became "aware" that some expatriate employees were working beyond the scope of their work permits and performing excessive hours.

"Following internal awareness of the situation, it was advised that retroactive compensation and legal reconciliation should be pursued before public exposure or governmental enforcement took place," the letter said. "Despite awareness, no formal resolution - (including payment of retroactive wages or full legal compliance with Bahamian regulations - has yet occurred.

"Expat employees were found to be working beyond the validity of their work permits, with most staying up to 10 months while only three months were covered. There are currently approximately 50 employees working without valid employment contracts."

The letter alleged that Bahamians have been equally impacted. "A group of Bahamian nationals employed on Great Stirrup Cay have also come forward reporting that they, too, are owed retroactive payments," it added.

"These individuals have raised concerns that they were not paid in full accordance with their contracts, nor were they compensated appropriately for overtime and extended working hours. The lack of action in resolving these outstanding payments suggests the issue is systemic, impacting both foreign and local workers alike....

"There is an urgent need for immediate government engagement by the Department of Labour and Department of Immigration [and] a clear timeline for retroactive payments, contract regularisation, permit compliance for both expatriate and Bahamian staff. Employees fear unjust termination, repatriation and a lack of protection despite having raised concerns through formal disputes."