By GENEA NOEL
Freeport News Reporter
genea@nasguard.com
Staff at the Isle of Capri Casino are preparing for its first official day of operation led by Treasure Bay Inc. – the successful buyer of the financially strapped establishment.
In an interview with The Freeport News yesterday, Vice-president and General Manager Edward Llambias said that come Monday, November 30, the property will open under the new name Treasure Bay Casino.
Yesterday was the last day that the casino had agreed to remain in operation until acquisition details were completed. According to Llambias, the staff is presently airing and organizing the premises for its first day.
"We will more than likely be doing that for the remainder of the week with the intention of getting ready for our first day of operation. The process seems to be moving along quite well, and the staff are excited and looking forward to a fresh start," he said.
"We are looking forward to a new beginning with a great company that has a proven track record for success in all of their markets that they have been in."
Over the past few weeks, Treasure Bay has been going through the approval process with the Gaming Board and other regulatory requirements to ensure that everything is in order for when they commence operation.
Treasure Bay Inc, which is based in Biloxi, Mississippi, is expected to upgrade the casino's equipment and introduce a vibrant marketing program.
Besides some employees who elected to accept severance benefits, Llambias said that the remainder of the staff will continue in the employment of the new operator.
Back in October, employees expressed their dissatisfaction with the terms of their proposed severance packages and continued employment with Treasure Bay.
Speaking to The Freeport News under the condition of anonymity, the employees said that many of the 200-plus workers are still uncertain and perplexed about the entire situation.
Despite meeting with Tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, State Minister for Finance Zhivargo Laing, Gaming Board officials, management of the Isle of Capri Casino and Hutchison Whampoa, the employees said many of their questions were left unanswered and that they believe their concerns have been overlooked.
Minister Laing responded to the employees' concerns, saying that the options that had been presented to them were the only ones available.
Laing said at the time that the severance package option means one thing.
"It means I sever my ties. You cannot under those circumstances guarantee someone something after that," Laing said.
"One of the things I did make mention to them (was) that there are options that they had. If you want a guarantee of a job, then don't take the severance, but you can't have both."
Laing said this would only be fair in relation to other Bahamians who have been terminated and gotten their severance packages.
"They have no options or guarantee moving forward. We can't on one hand pay the severance and then on the other say I guarantee you a job," Laing said.
"That is unfair and we have made it clear to them and that really is as it is today."
From March, the Isle of Capri had announced that they would not be renewing their lease which ended on May 31.
Since then, the government had worked out an agreement with them to stay on until a new operator was found.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham had admitted that the Government is "painfully" paying the cost for the continued operation of the Isle of Capri Casino and he was not comfortable with The Bahamas Government having to take funds from the public treasury to run the casino.
