"You...told me that...you want to ensure that every worker at the (Grand Beach) Resort votes NNP at the next election. Those words came from the pen of the Executive Director of Grenada Grand Beach Resort, formerly the Ramada Renaissance, Daniel Nicholas in a letter written to Labour Minister, Clarice Charles.

 The hotel executive has accused the female government minister of attempting to settle an impasse at the hotel with the bank and General Workers Union (BGWU) in an effort to woo workers to vote for the NNP in the upcoming general elections.

 Following is the text of the letter, dated July 17, 2007 as obtianed by the GRENADA TODAY newspaper:

Mrs Claris Charles
Minister of Education
Labour and legal Affairs

Dear Madame Minister,

I have reviewed your faxed letter dated 13th July, 2007. I am surprised that you addressed it to the General Manager since your actions ensured that I no longer have one.

The Resorts Labour Relations Consultant dealt in good faith and conducted meetings with all concerned. The Resort expressed its view that it did not agree with several recommendations from the Ministry of Labour.

According to the Employment Act of 1999, where agreement cannot be reached the matter is to be turned over to the Arbitration Tribunal pursuant to section 46 of the Labour Relations Act. Your Ministry never pursued establishing the Arbitration Tribunal. As a matter of record the Labour Commissioner requested another round of negotiations between members of the BGWU and the Resort to try and settle the very old issues and we were successful in setting 95% of them amicably.

The Labour Commissioner discharged his duties professionally and fairly. I respect him very much for that. To get straight to the point, as per your telephone call to me on the 12th of July, you told me you immediately decided to revoke two of the 3 American Managers' work permits (that had recently been issued based on their outstanding professional qualifications) and run the other Manager off the island because you heard rumours of wrong doing but had no evidence to substantiate that hearsay.

The Secretary of the BGWU even told you personally in my presence there are no problems at the Resort and the gentlemen have done no wrong. You went on to tell me I didn't understand politics and you acted the way you did because you strongly feel that any Grenadian can do their jobs.  

You further told me that your actions have nothing to do with the old labour issues but rather you want to ensure that every worker at the Resort votes NNP at the next election. Your actions to deny the Resort of its highly skilled management have jeopardised the Resort's ability to meet the international requirement of Crowne Plaza. You have damaged the image of Grenada as a safe and stable country to invest.

We shall reserve all legal rights entitled to us. May God continue to bless this great island nation of Grenada.

Daniel Nicholas
Executive director
Grenada Grand Beach Resort