the legal status of Chinese labourers working on Four Seasons Resort?
At first it appeared the 100 workers on the project that now occupies what was once home to Paradise Beach Hotel were legal.
Then, Government said not so – any Chinese employed on this project was working illegally.
Then developers on the project insisted that the 100 Chinese did have their papers in order.
But yesterday Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Reverend Joseph Atherley, flanked by Chief Immigration Officer Gilbert Greaves, repeated his stand on the issue.
He insisted Government had not given the green light for the importation of Chinese labourers to work at the Clearwater Paradise site.
The contentious issue with the Chinese workers at Four Seasons surfaced about two weeks ago when, at the official stone laying ceremony for the multi-million-dollar five-star hotel, principal developer Mike Pemberton revealed that about 100 Chinese were working on the project through China State Construction Company.
While comments were swift after this story was published, with some individuals in construction questioning the need for Chinese labourers on major projects, it was the response from Government that opened up a can of worms, so to speak, and brought another twist to this issue.
There was some shock and surprise when Atherley came out publicly and stated that any Chinese working on the Four Seasons Development have been doing so illegally.
Atherley said no work permits had been issued for the Clearwater Bay project.
"I want to make it clear that . . . the Office of the Prime Minister through neither myself nor the Prime Minister would have approved any such non-local or non-regional employment in relation to this development to date because no application and no recommendation has been made".
No permits isssued
He said the Chief Immigration Officer had merely "advised" that applications had been made to the Immigration Department by the developers.
Atherley said a check made with Greaves ascertained that no work permits have been issued.
However, the resort's developer insisted that the 100 Chinese workers did indeed have their papers in order.
"Do you think the Chief Immigration Officer would allow the Chinese workers here without papers?"
The Minister later reported that there was dialogue between the Immigration Department and the developers regarding this matter.
Yesterday he reported to the public that there were applications for 169 work permits, including those for 50 Chinese workers.
He said none of the permits would be approved until the vacancies advertised in the Press for local labour were filled.
But apart from the legality of these foreign workers, another question has been raised.
Why is there the need for the importation of workers?
Could this job not be done by local workers?
Businessman Ralph "Bizzy" Williams launched a strong statement, noting that "The truth is that the Chinese are the cheapest labour. they don't pay National Insurance, they don't pay tax, they don't pay anything in Barbados. We have to pay our taxes, National Insurance and severance if you're laying off people from time to time . . .
"If the Chinese labourers are going to come to Barbados and operate the same way we have to operate, then I have no quarrel with them; but if they come here under a different set of rules then I don't think it is fair".
Pemberton, the developer, added his voice to this particular debate and defended the use of foreign labourers.
"There is not a construction company large enough with a sufficient workforce to undertake such a huge project. If this was a small project I wouldn't want to bring Chinese workers in".
He said while he had spoken to large construction companies employing hundreds of workers, they could not commit their entire workforce to this project.
Atherley said while there was a policy in place where local and then regional labour must first be tapped, the developers of the project indicated that because of its magnitude, they had to look outside.
In February this year information obtained from the Immigration Department revealed that work permits granted to Chinese nationals in Barbados had tripled since 2004.
In that year, while no long-term permits were granted, 38 short-term ones were issued to Chinese seeking employment in the construction industry.
By 2006, that number jumped to 108 short-term workers and 29 long-term construction-related work permits.
Up to earlier this year Chinese labourers were employed as steel benders, carpenters, masons, electricians and plumbers.
They were working on at least seven projects including Independence Square, Harrisons Cave, the HIV/AIDS Food Bank in the City, the St Michael School, the multilevel carpark on Princess Alice Highway, the new Salvation Army headquarters in The City, and Foundation Secondary School in Christ Church.
carolmartindale @nationnews.com