We have been receiving emails querying the state of negotiations regarding the Royal Shop and Sandy Lane industrial disputes. BU readers may remember that a national strike was recently averted at the eleventh hour when as all Barbadians anticipated, the new Prime Minister David Thompson intervened. The reason offered and accepted by the union we understand was the ‘newness’ of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government. Apparently, it was felt by Sir Roy Trotman using all of his superior wisdom that Prime Minister Thompson and his government needed some time to acquaint themselves with all the matters involved in the dispute. What made matters worst was the national strike action being strategically called on the eve of the departure of Prime Minister Thompson to Trinidad on an official trip.
Several issues have arisen from the disputes currently simmering which involves Sandy Lane and Royal Shop. We highlighted the accusation by the person at the centre of the Sandy Lane dispute alleging police brutality while giving his statement in the custody of the police. But there is another issue, one which has been known to the authorities and ordinary Barbadians alike for many years now.
Employees who work in the tourist industry will tell you that many tourists who visit our island sometimes do so for other reasons. Many stories have been circulated about tourists who visited our island because of the opportunity to hoodwink the system. Are you asking how they do? Many of them cry thief, thief, by claiming that some expensive piece of jewelery has been stolen. The local police is called and a statement promptly given by the victim. The victims armed with a bona fide statement issued by the Royal Barbados Police Force makes it their business to visit their insurance company at the first opportunity. No doubt claims are settled, but the feedback we are getting suggests that the item would never have been stolen. This is a scam which has been going on for years and which we suspect is known to the authorities on the ground, but what can they do about it?
People familiar with the practice claim that our policemen are too predictable when they respond to tourists who perpetuate these little scams. Some say that the reports from tourists claiming to be the victims of theft are usually taken at face value by all involved to protect the guests. Why are we associating this practice to the Sandy Lane Affair? Your guess is as good as ours!
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