GRAND BAHAMA YOUTH CHOIR EXPELLED FROM MEMORIES
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This was a photo of the Grand Bahama Youth Choir when at the invitation of one of the Managers of Memories, the Hotel in Freeport in Lucaya, they performed for the tourists. That was on Christmas Eve. Shortly after the performance which brought rave reviews from the tourists one of the foreign managers walked up to the Director of the Choir Kevin Tomlinson and told them that while it was all very nice, he needed the Choir to get off the premises immediately. The Director did not think he heard correctly. He was told “Get out, leave now”. This was shocking and he told the Manager that he had been invited with the choir to perform. The Manager told him that the Bahamian manager who had invited them does not run things around Memories and he (the Bahamian manager) would be dismissed himself the next day. This was all said in front of the Choir. These are the young children of Freeport, the city’s future. An investigation is warranted into this insult by the Ministry for Grand Bahama.
43 Comments
Did this really happen? Before your children? Can’t be! Not in this day and age in our Bahamas? Please tell me that this foreign manager, not only has been invited to leave Grand Bahama forthwith, but also as a statement by Memories, not to reassign him at any of their properties – anywhere!
Ministry of Grand Bahama, we need to hear from you – on this one!
Sounds like the Minister for a Immigration needs to reconsider his work permit!
Please say this is all a practical joke. If it isn’t what was the reason given for the expulsion of the youth choir from Memories? Appears as lately this hotel is creating a lot of bad memories and Pt Lucaya on the whole. It’s my understanding that the straw vendors would be moving soon and all religious activities ie singing etc, can no longer perform in the Count Basie Square. What is this? Government need look into these allegations post haste in the face of all the concessions given to this hotel, concessions Bahamians do not even get. Is it because these liberal Canadians are not Christmas, God, Jesus, Christian friendly? I digress.
it is time for us to stand up for what we believe in. enough is enough. owners of these resorts owe us more than we owe them. they come here as if we doing them a favor. enough of this we bowing to these people begging them. they cant take our water nor the property. it belongs to us so they need to know the bahamas is great because of us. not them.
I pray this is not true that our young people and a Bahamian youth leader and a Bahamian manager were handled in this fashion. Please keep us updated on this very disturbing turn of events
I PUT THIS IN BOLD TODAY. THIS IS DEFINITELY UNACCEPTABLE AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! ALL PARENTS, PAST AND PRESENT OF TGE STUDENTS OF THE GRAND BAHAMA YOUTH CHOIR ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF GRAND BAHAMA NEEDS TO ASSEMBLEM OUTSIDE OF MEMORIES HOTEL ON TUESDAY MORNING DEMANDING THE MANAGER WHO DID THIS TO LEAVE THE ISLAND IMMEDIATELY! I WILL BE THERE PRESENT AT 9AM
MR. GARVEY I FULLY ENDORSE THIS MESSAGE!! WE AS BAHAMIANS WON’T AND WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS!! THAT FOREIGNER HAS NO SAY IN OUR COUNTRY!! HELLLLLLLL NOOOOOOO!!! THROW HIS ASS OUT AND I HOPE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARE PRESENT TOO SMT!!
SOME OF THE CHILDREN OF THIS CHOIR HAS BEEN PINNED AS JUNIOR AMBASSADORS OF THIS COUNTRY AND THESE SET OF CHILDREN ARE NO DIFFERENT. WE WILL NOT ALLOW OUR CHILDREN AND THE EFFORTS OF MR. KEVIN TOMLINSON TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS BY GUEST OF OUR COUNTRY WHILE WE ARE THE HOST!!!!!!!!!
Get his ass out of Freeport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Kevin Tomlinson, this action by the hotel manager is a violation of the Hotel Encouragement Act. When Sir Lynden Pindling had the Act drafted, to allow ‘duty-free’ benefits and concessions for hotel investors / developers, a ‘key’ condition to qualify for these benefits and concessions is for unimpeded access to the respective hotel amenities and common guest areas by local Bahamians, as long as they do not be a disturbance to hotel guest. Hence, if your kids were well behave, then this is a clear violation by the hotel general manager. I suggest that you contact Senator Julian Russell, Chairman of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, as he need to have a word with the manager to make him aware of this blatant violation of the Hotel Encouragement Act. This was the very same reason Atlantis could not bar Bahamians from ‘The Dig’, as was attempted when it first opened. The Dig ( an Atlantis) hotel amenity could have lose their status as a ‘duty-free’ property.
I was a young musician there once. I know the beasts.
Truly the matter must be investigated with a view to be in the know of the conclusion of the whole matter. It is premature to make any suggestion that any foreign manager should be invited to leave Grand Bahama forthwith. Perhaps the Bahamian manager should speak up to enable us to properly weigh in on the matter.
YALL TREATIN THIS ANIMAL TOO SOFT, First put his name on everything that it can be plastered on, then go hog tie n beat his butt, this is what happens when you let anyone into your country without proper venting, and when you have qualified Bahamians too that can do what he does better than him, yes not he should leave, he must leave or be kicked out literally .
kick that racist mf out of our country
If this is Correct, then a full investigation should happen, this is a disgrace, Bahamians are not Welcome in their home Town?
Truly disappointing id this infact happened. We as Bahamians must not allow the foreignera in our country to degrade us and worse our kids. I feel that the reaort ought to be made to apologize to the Choir
There is a right and wrong way to handle issues.
Smt.
Truly disappointing if this infact happened. We as Bahamians must not allow the foreignera in our country to degrade us and worse our kids. I feel that the reaort ought to be made to apologize to the Choir. There is a right and wrong way to handle issues. Smt.
Whatever happened, the foreigner, should have not carried on in this manner. This altercation should have never happened in the presence of the children. We need to find out what brought this on to avoid repetition.
I hope for these precious children this is absolutely not true!!! If it is it is a travesty that needs to be remedied. There can be no, absolutely no reason to treat these young, contributing Bahamians this way, especially on their own soil!!!
This seem to be something of the pass. Our parent have struggled to ensure that such act do not occur in our Bahamas. If this is so, then the first thing smoking that jack ass should be on it, out of our country. Send his things behind him, never to be seen or spoken of.
If this is a fact, the foreigen manager need to be addressed by the Minister for Grand Bahama and further actions should be taken. There are some foreign managers that come to this country and treat our people terribly. This is the time for us to stand strong together. Someone needs to stand strong and firm to ensue that the Bahamian manager is not terminated. I hope this does not discourage our little future leaders from continuing from doing a great job that they have been doing.
Remove this fool from GBI. This is exactly the type of people we don’t want here
I am all in agreement with an investigation to happen on this matter; that’s one arm of the solution; another arm is to protest to get her off this island immediately. it happened once, it will happen again…. she treats the employees like garbage already… the mere fact that she says ” the BAHAMIAN MANAGER DONT RUN THINGS AROUND HERE” is clear to the attitude displayed by her… in my view, she has to leave.. those types of attitude and treatment to our BAHAMIAN PATRIOTS (youth choir, workers or citizens) should not and I stress, WILL NOT be tolerate this type treatment… if she terminates that BAHAMIAN MANAGER, SHE WILL HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE SIGN;
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/853/356/320/we-demand-the-termination-and-deportation-/
This is very upsetting. As Bahamians we allow people to treat us any way they wish and sit back and allow it. Something must be done. We cannot allow these atheist and demons invited into our country to stifle the spirit of God in us. It seemed to me to be a religious attack. This is not America where there is freedom ‘from’ religion. We must stand strong and united as a Christian nation and a nation that appreciates the talent of our young people.
As a Canadian who was a former resident–I thought it was terrible that access to the beach in front of the hotel was made difficult to
get to.
The point that was built altered the currents–this was the start 17 years ago–the hotel thinking they were above the law.
If the Hotel Act allows Bahamians access to ALL hotels–maybe a big sign should be put up saying PUBLIC BEACH–start reclaiming what is rightfully yours!
Horrible if true. No one should be spoken to in this manner. I think other comments are correct. A formal apology in the Freeport News, suspension of this persons work permit. Promotion of the Bahamian manager.
Obviously there was a breakdown in communication somewhere. For what I am hearing, perhaps the General Manager was not informed of the events that took place. However, she ought not to have taken it out on Mr. Tomlinson and the children. She could have handled this after the fact, and not with Mr. Tomlinson. Mr. Tomlinson would not arrange to have the children at the property on the day of the event had he not received permision, and perhaps, a promise of pay. He had, I am sure numerous rehersals in preparation for this event. Bear in mind, it was Mr. Tomlinson who organized one of the best arrangements for the opening of Memories, so he is certainly no stranger to the property. We would therefore, need to get to the bottom of this. Could it be that this event was organized without the prior knowledge of the General Manager, and to prove a point, she decided to “chase” Mr. Tomlinson and his group off the property to teach the guilty party, the “Bahamian Manager,” a lesson? Certainly I would be very disappointed if the Bahamian Manager did not clear the event with the General Manager if is customary to do so. It is not fair to accuse the General of being a rascist just because this happened to Bahamians. Let us hear both sides before we jump to a conclusion.
Whether or not the hotel manager neglected to coordinate this event with the GM is not the point and is no excuse for Bahamians to be treated as less than and/or they don’t belong. The issue should have been addressed internally, not with guest – such as the choir director and his students. Many hotel managers and employees fail to realize that every member of the public is a potential guest and has the greatest availability for repeat visits, if exceptional service. This GM was obviously placed in position as a favor, for political reasons or presented a ‘padded’ resume and ‘fluffed’ through the interview. But the outline presented shows a lack of human resources training and basic human relations sense. It would be a travesty is a creative Bahamian loses a job because a foreigner, a GUEST in OUR country chooses to wield power!
Obviously, there was a breakdown in communication somewhere. For what I am hearing, perhaps the General Manager was not informed of the events that took place. However, she ought not to have taken it out on Mr. Tomlinson and the children. She could have handled this after the fact, and not with Mr. Tomlinson. Mr. Tomlinson would not arrange to have the children at the property on the day of the event had he not received permission, and perhaps, a promise of pay. He had, I am sure numerous rehearsals in preparation for this event. Bear in mind, it was Mr. Tomlinson who organized one of the best arrangements for the opening of Memories, so he is certainly no stranger to the property. We would, therefore, need to get to the bottom of this. Could it be that this event was organized without the prior knowledge of the General Manager, and to prove a point, she decided to “chase” Mr. Tomlinson and his group off the property to teach the guilty party, the “Bahamian Manager,” a lesson? Certainly I would be very disappointed if the Bahamian Manager did not clear the event with the General Manager if is customary to do so. It is not fair to accuse the General of being racists just because this happened to Bahamians. Let us hear both sides before we jump to a conclusion.
There is absolutely no excuse for this to be happening in this country or any other country. The reasoning that you are giving makes no sense at all.. That’s why you have an office as a manager.. If this is a Corporate policy then they should move to a country that’s more exceptale to them.. We BAHAMIANS would rather suffer, then to loose our pride…PEOPLE TREAT YOU HOW YOU ALLOW THEM TO TREAT YOU…
I’m no hotel manager, but if it had happened in my hotel, I would have called the press and detained the choir in the ballroom with Christmas cookies and apple cider until the press arrived. But who am I……..I’m “just” a Bahamian.
It is sooooo sad when foreigners come to a country and think that they can own a counrtry, there people and culture. If these owners are so wealthy and prosperous why not build hotel and resorts in your country. No these foreigners cant do that.The bahamas is not for sale nor our sun sand and sea. We are first in our country not a foreigner. The BAHAMAS is not a mama and papa store the Bahamas is a soverign nation regulated by laws and order
This story is very disappointing to hear. I hope the matter is investigated!
You are treated how you allow people to treat you… In this case the police would have to been called and Memories Corperate Office would’ve been notified immediately..I hope that the process of having him excorted to the airport and put on a plane out of this country is in progress.. There is no excuse why this should not happened…. He is so lucky that it was Mr.. Tomlinson and not me or some people I know, for sure I know I would not be in church for New Years but in a police holding cell.
I moved from my Freeport home, because , as a Bahamian, I could NOT find work. I now live in Northern Ireland. It is with incredible sadness that I have read what happened to that amazing choir, and Mt T ( as my kids always called him) Is one of the greatest men we have ever .had on Grand Bahama!! It is simply unbelievable that this has happened. Surely this will not be passed over, and forgotten…. please!!! Whoever this so called manager is….. must be taken to task. Perhaps BAHAMIANS should be hired to do a proper job. I would come back in a heart beat, and would be delighted to find such a job!!
In 2008 the financial ‘bubble’ burst in the US which lead to the great economic depression of our time/era, the media coined it a “recession” ( subconscious assurance it was temporal).
This ripple effect of the recession affected every major industrial international business in the entire world, our major industries have yet to make a real, significant recovery; not so good for us. America being the largest consumer on the planet, we, like many countries, rely on it’s people’s inquisitive,exploratory nature (and by extention the world) as a means of survival…
With banks closings their doors for good in the caribbean, formulating exit strategies, tourism numbers continuously falling behind other caribbean nations where we once lead. This temporal recession has far out lived it’s forecasted duration and has become the “Great Bahamain Depression”…
So, I think its safe to say that we are ALL, well aware of the necessity of foreign direct investment.
What we are concerned with as citizens is not so much our global position ( that’s pretty much out of our hands for the time being…) but rather, what we have control over and what has control over us; governance.
This nation, being the “planners” that we are (from a govt standpoint) reacted to the global recession like a man in gasoline ‘draws’ who just woke up to a fire in his home… it was (and still is) a ‘fire sale’ of mammoth proportions.
While government(s) focused on economic stabilization; social welfare, future ownership and the dream of ‘Bahamianization’ were all lost in the rubble and panic of the critical nature of the “swift reaction”.
Which leads me to my point…
The last 5-7 years in particular we have seen a great deal of labour disputes with employers taking a hardline apporach and position of and in defiance to both the laws that govern labour and the nature and way of business in the Nation.
If you would recall:
•Bahamar
•Melia
•Crystal Palace
•Riu
•Security officers in GB a few yrs back
•Bank employees
•Bahamian Construction workers
•Bimini Bay
•Four Seasons
•Off shore banking depletion
…and the list most definitely goes on and on…
With foreign managers in HR post, purchasing managers post, front office manager Post… or, Chinese coming in and taking the jobs of local construction workers… our government, that WE the people, have entrusted to look out for ours and our children’s welfare, has tunnel vision on this ‘bigger picture’ they continue to paint that is unattainable in this global economic environment. All while ignoring the cry and tears of the workers. Workers who now find the metaphoric glass ceiling, once spoken of as a common challenge when climbing the ladder to success, has not only becoming translucent but steadily and swiftly desending a few feet with every foreign aquisition of a bahamian asset and every concession and liberty given to foreigners by our government.
We are an after thought in our own country, 3rd class citizens in a nation built for us, by us.
I could hear the slave master in the distance yell…”Back to your barracks, niggers!”…lest we take a stand.
But to so many consumed with the NOW, its but basic supply and demand; sun, sand and sea for money.
Our plantation in the sun, what you gonna’ do, fight or run?
Our Bahamaland.
In our Bahamas a foreigner is allowed to chase our next generation? Our future, our little darlings whom we are to believe in? They better get that together and fast !
“My boss drove a luxury car everyday and it was my duty to greet him and to open the gates for him, as I worked as a watchman in his villa. But he never responded back to my greetings.
One day he saw me opening the garbage bags outside the villa in search for any leftover food. But, as usual he never even looked at me, it was like as if he never saw anything!
The very next day I saw a paper bag at the same place, but it was clean and the food inside was covered well. It was fresh and good food like someone had just brought it from the supermarket. I didn’t bother as to where it came from, I just took the paper bag and I was so happy about it.
Every day I found this paper bag at the same place with fresh vegetables and all that we needed for home. This became my daily routine. I was eating and sharing this food with my wife and kids. I was wondering who this fool could be?! To forget his paper bag full of fresh food everyday.
One day there was a big problem in the villa and I was told that my boss has died. There were too many guests coming to the villa that day and I didn’t get any food that day, so I thought that one of the guests must have taken it. But the same thing happened the 2nd day, the 3rd day and the 4th day.
It went on like this for a few weeks and I found it difficult to provide food for my family, so I decided to ask the wife of my boss for a raise in my salary or else I would quit my job as a watchman.
After I told her, she was shocked, and asked me, how come you never complained about your salary for the last 2 years? And why is this salary not enough for you now? I gave her so many excuses but she was never convinced!
Finally in the end, I decided to tell her the truth, I told her the entire story of the bag of groceries, and as to how it was my daily provision. She then asked me as to when this stopped? I told her after the death of her husband. And then I realized that I stopped seeing the paper bag immediately after the death of my boss. Why didn’t I ever think of this before? That it was my boss who was providing this for me? I guess it was because I never thought that a person who never replied to my greetings could ever be this generous!
His wife started to cry and I told her to please stop crying and that I’m really sorry that I asked for a raise, I didn’t know that it was your husband who was providing me with the meals, I’ll remain as a watchman and be happy to provide my service.
His wife told me, I’m crying because I’ve finally found the 7th person my husband was giving this bag full of food. I knew my husband was giving 7 people everyday, I had already found the 6 people, and all these days I was searching for the 7th person. And today I found out.
From that day onwards, I started to receive the bag full of food again, but this time his son was bringing it to my house and giving it to my hand. But whenever I thanked him, he never replied! Just like his dad!
One day, I told him THANK YOU in a very loud voice! He replied back to me to please not be offended when he doesn’t reply, because he has a hearing problem, just like his dad!”
Oh! We have been wrong so many times judging others without knowing the true story behind their actions. Be kind and courteous in dealing with others, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. Be careful, not everything is about you. Before you assume, there is this thing called ASKING.
Don’t just jump to conclusion, because that is truly not an exercise, it may cause you more harm at the end of the day. Many of our problems are caused by how we process what happens around us. Don’t judge a situation you have never been in. Be humble enough to learn. You do not know it all. Let’s change the way we feel about ourselves and others.
There are two sides to a story. Don’t believe everything you hear.
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
Our government allow these people in our country when the visit the hotel they have there lunch in the presidential room and enjoy their free food as their own people is treated like dogs. As those those same managers smile up in there faces waiting for them to live. We have been selling out our own people for years.
When Mr. Varello did or said that he stabbed me in the heart. He must realize that that a lot of us have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews in that choir.
Please we need him out of the country now before it is too late. Please please please Mr. Varello leave now!
“Carry ya stinking A–“
That was very rude and disrespectful of that manager. I hope immigration revoke his work permit and send him back wherever he came from. Ungrateful people like him don’t need to be working there. I really felt bad after hearing about this.
What a lot of racist rubbish, as usual, being spouted on this site. Just because the manager is white, you assume he is racist. You lot, here, are the racists.