Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
A policeman (right) warns workers to back away shortly after protests erupted yesterday outside the Bahia Principe hotel in St. Ann. During an earlier incident, work was halted and two security guards were shot and injured. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
A RIOT involving employees and security personnel at the problem-plagued Bahia Principe hotel construction site at Pear Tree Bottom in St. Ann yesterday led to an indefinite closure of the site.
Three persons, including a security guard, were left nursing gunshot wounds and other injuries inflicted by stones and other missiles while 16 persons have been taken into custody by the police. Others are still being sought for questioning by the lawmen.
The Discovery Bay main road was blocked during the protest and traffic had to be diverted through Brown's Town.
It was a protracted dispute over wages and other matters of concern among the more than 2,000 employees that erupted into violence after they were reportedly told that they would not be paid outstanding wages until later this month.
UNDERPAID
For several months the workers have been complaining that they were being underpaid as they were working 12 hours per day for between $800 and a $1,000 per day. They also reported that they had to suffer long delays in collecting their pay and, more recently, they claimed large numbers of expatriate workers from the Dominican Republic have been brought in to take over their jobs.
Several of the Dominican Republic nationals were seen being escorted off the site by the police following yesterday's incident.
During the rioting, a canteen on the site of the US$200 million project was looted by some of the workers. Three security posts on the property were burnt to the ground and fire was also set to a section of the building under construction.
It all began when workers tried to enter the compound and were barred by security guards who padlocked the gate. Hundreds of workers then stormed the gate, knocking down a section of the perimeter fence. The security guards responded by firing several shots in the air but were overcome by the large crowd. During the fracas one of the guards had his gun taken from him by a worker who reportedly then shot the guard. He also shot a fellow worker who came to the assistance of the guard.
Another man later turned up with a gunshot wound to the right arm and the police said they believed he was shot in a crossfire.
Police personnel who arrived on the scene were forced to take cover immediately after they came under attack from a hail of stones. The lawmen had to duck behind heavy-duty vehicles on the site, some of which were damaged by stones.
The police responded with gunshots and tear gas to disperse those in the crowd, some of whom were beaten during the process. The police later cleared the area of workers and ensured that none were located within close proximity to the construction site.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ray Palmer, who is in charge of St. Ann, said the police will be maintaining a presence on the site until full normality is restored.
When The Gleaner contacted Project Manager, Jesus Castellanos Ortega, who is in the Dominican Republic, he referred the matter to Sales Manager Ricardo Arditto, who could not be located up to last night.
The police and senior personnel on the project were holding meetings yesterday evening to determine when work may resume on the site.
