Advocate staff go without pay after late publisher’s assets frozen

Staff of Barbados’ oldest newspaper say they have not been paid in the last two months and are crying out for help.

The finances of the Barbados Advocate have been thrown into a tailspin following the death of its owner and chairman Sir Anthony Bryan in June, 2020.

It has come as a result of Court Order CV 450, brought by his son Allan Richard Bryan et al, against Gail Sherry-Anne Padmore, one of the directors of its Board, which has seen the company’s main account frozen since the end of July.

With the director not allowed to dispose of, deal with, or diminish the value of any of the assets, whether solely or jointly-owned, the main account of the newspaper, fondly referred to as “The Old Lady of Fontabelle”, was included by the claimants in the order.

As a result, the company has not been in a position to meet its monthly obligations for close to two months.

In a press release issued today by its staff, they described the situation as “untenable” and called for the company’s funds to be unfrozen to allow them to be paid.

They said the situation had led to some of them experiencing serious financial hardships.

“Now with September’s payday looming, staff continue to feel the pinch with many at the end of their rope with overdue bills and mortgage and rent payments. Several, who are also parents, have been rendered unable to purchase textbooks and other school supplies even with the new term starting days ago.

“With the latest hearing being held this past Wednesday, the ruling has been deferred for a second time, now to October 7 and it appears as though September’s payday will also pass without employees receiving salaries for the work we have done and continue to do in these trying circumstances. What makes the situation even more hurtful and insulting is that while provisions have been made in the Order for the Defendant in the matter to receive a weekly allowance, no such thought was put in place to ensure the staff and other obligations of The Advocate could be paid, putting families and the entire organisation at risk. Exacerbating this situation is the lack of cohesion on the actual Board in handling this matter in particular, and others preceding it, as it has been split down the middle since the death of owner and chairman Sir Anthony Bryan,” the press statement added.

“The majority of the staff has taken the decision to break the silence ensured by the goodwill we have extended to the company and are making several requests. These include the freeing up of funds from the frozen account, as well as allowing for the payment of the group medical insurance, National Insurance Scheme contributions and utility bills. The staff is also demanding a greater level of  cooperation at the board level for the betterment of the company.

“With the newspaper company flailing defenselessly in the middle of this legal tug-of-war, staff is being unfairly punished. After cultivating a legacy of virtue and trustworthiness in the local and regional media space over 125 years, the future of The Barbados Advocate is now uncertain,” the statement further read.
(randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)