- Rudolph BrownEmployees at the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) on Ruthven Road in Kingston protest yesterday demanding the removal of the company's executive chairman John Thompson who had, among other things, fired the chief accountant on Thursday.
UNIONISED WORKERS at the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) who went on strike yesterday have threatened to continue their protest this weekend throwing a cloud of uncertainty over lottery drawings.
The employees are protesting against the company's firing of its chief accountant who, they say, has been at BLGC for 18 years. They are also upset with the management style of the company's executive chairman, John Thompson. The workers are demanding an early meeting with Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, who has portfolio responsibility over BLGC, to resolve the situation.
The BGLC has as its main duties, the protection of the betting and gaming public, issuing of licences and regulating lotteries, the promoting of racing at Caymanas Track Limited and its Off Track betting parlours, bookmakers and operators of prize promotions as well as gaming machine operators.
The employees, represented by the National Workers Union (NWU) delegate and president of the staff association Albert Rose, claimed that accountant Patrick Hall was wrongfully dismissed on Thursday.
Tanya Rose, the new director of administration at BGLC, declined to comment when contacted.
Danny Roberts, NWU vice president, said that he was awaiting word from Minister Davies as to when a meeting between the two groups would take place. He said that a meeting was planned with the union and BGLC workers on Monday and that the chief accountant would be reinstated in his position when working resumes.
For the duration of the strike, no legitimate lottery drawings can take place as the presence of a BGLC representative is necessary for drawings to be legal.
