NOVEMBER 25TH, 2018 – NOVEMBER 30TH, 2018
Website: www.suntci.com
Email: sun@suntci.com
VOLUME 14 - NO. 47
Tel: (649) 348-6838
$1.00
Fax: (649) 941-3281
www.facebook.com/tcisun
LABOUR TRIBUNAL LOSES IN COURT by Hayden Boyce Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
A
ny decisions made or actions taken by the Labour Tribunal after March 30, 2018 are null and void. That was the ruling of judges of the Court of Appeal, meaning that those cases would have to be heard again because the tribunal was not operating according to a new law which came into effect on the above date. On March 30th, 2018, His Excellency Governor Dr. John Freeman signed a new law called the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance, which stated that the President of the Labour Tribunal “shall be an attorneyat-law who has been in practice for not less than seven years”. However, since that time, persons who were acting as president of the tribunal were not lawyers and were still hearing cases. The Court of Appeal comprising president Elliott Mottley, QC, and Justices of Appeal Humphrey Stollmeyer, QC, and Roger HamelSmith, QC, said those decisions were “a nullity”. Queen’s Counsel Conrad Griffiths took the Labour Tribunal to court after his client, a company called Pearl Reef, was ordered to pay a Haitian national Elius Paul $20, 687 for wrongful dismissal. The man was never paid the money because the company got a stay of execution until the appeal was heard. The former Labour Tribunal president Arthur Forbes, who was suspended in August 2017, has a law degree but he was not called to the
Danae Dennie is TCI’s new Junior Tourism Minister From L-R – Flow Country Manager, Mrs. Delleriece Hall, Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, 2018 Junior Minister Danae Dennie, Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and Director of Tourism Ramon Andrews. (See page 15 for more information). Bar. The decisions that were made by the Tribunal between the time of Forbes suspension and March 30th, 2018 are still valid, however. Forbes’ contract expired on June 13th, 2018. Since the new law was gazetted, the Labour Tribunal has been advertising for a president. The job advertisement says the holder of the post must have at least ten (10) years’ experience in the legal profession and in particular in the field of employment law, industrial
relations, dispute resolution, mediation and litigation. The salary is $83,640.00 per year, plus allowances. Candidates must be qualified and eligible to practise in a Commonwealth Law Jurisdiction or the Republic of Ireland. Experience in Civil and Commercial litigation, particularly in areas of industrial relations and employment disputes and complaints in the private or public sector would be an advantage. Conrad Griffiths, QC
Serious concerns about parliament building in Grand Turk S
erious concerns are being raised about environment and safety conditions at the NJS Francis Building in Grand Turk, which houses the House of Assembly and
offices for the Premier, the Speaker, Opposition Leader and the Clerk of Parliament. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing & Planning
recently issued a press release informing the general public that all staff and visitors to the NJS Francis Building should discontinuing using the west balcony and the west porch.
It is understood that the building has mould problems which have not been addressed since the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
Conserve Energy & Save! If your refrigerator was made before 1993, consider replacing it with a newer, Energy Star model which reduces electricity usage by as much as half. Further information and energy conservation tips are available on our website: www.fortistci.com
www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313