FORMER Soufriere parliamentary representative, Herod Stanislas says he is unhappy with a decision by the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation (SRDF) to dismiss five employees.
Stanislas claimed that the employees were seemingly dismissed because of their (supposed) affiliation with the United Workers Party (UWP).
Stanislas, who described the situation as a matter of great concern, claimed that since the Labour Party took office in 2021, there has been a consistent pattern of layoffs and terminations at the SRDF. To date, he said, almost 50 employees have been sent home “and last Friday another five were laid off by the Executive Chairman of the Soufriere Foundation.”
Stanislas accused the SRDF (a nonprofit organization established to promote, support, facilitate and coordinate local development in Soufriere) of terminating employees without a valid explanation- a decision he claims he’s still grappling with.
“Allow me to quote the letter,” said Stanislas, (which was allegedly given to a staff member).
“The Soufriere Regional Development Foundation wishes to undertake a manpower need and assessment of the various agencies and departments within the institution. This is necessary if we are to truly determine the levels of efficiency, productivity and attributes to each department. To successfully carry out this mandate, we will need to streamline and reassess the manpower and human resource,’” he said, quoting the letter, adding that no time frame was provided “as to whether the layoff is for a week, two weeks”, etcetera.
“Why are the employees being sent home to undertake your assessment? Wouldn’t it be prudent to undertake the analysis before you take the necessary action? Is this an excuse to terminate the employees? It is important to note that during the global pandemic which greatly hampered the SRDF considering it is tourism based, not a single staff member was laid off,” he said.
Some of the employees worked with the Foundation for over 20 years, Stanislas added. Amongst them was a female worker “who (has) given 27 years of service … getting a call that there is an urgent meeting at the office.”
That employee, he said, was terminated upon arrival, and, furthermore, received no severance payment.
Said Stanislas: “The question is why, why at this time of year?”
“What’s disheartening in all of this is that the persons being laid off are perceived to be supporters of the United Workers Party. I was hoping that this wouldn’t be the case”, he said.
Stanislas called on Director Ernest Augier to resign from the position.
“This call is on behalf of the people of Soufriere, Fond St Jacques to bring an end to this behaviour taking place at the Soufriere Regional Development Foundation. I am demanding the immediate resignation of the Executive Chairman. If he refuses to resign I am calling on the prime minister to remove him from the Board of Directors,” Stanislas said.
THE VOICE Wednesday reached out to the SRDF to get its thoughts on the matter, however, we were informed that the director was in a meeting and would respond subsequently. The director, however, failed to return our call.
Yesterday we again reached out to the Foundation, however, according to a representative, the director was absent. She assured THE VOICE that she would contact this reporter after speaking to Mr Augier, however, up to press time yesterday, THE VOICE had not heard from the SRDF.