The Kempinski Resort at Baie Lazare has a private compound under
the management of Lazare Properties Limited headed by one Aldakhail Suliman; a
man much feared by many working in his employment. For several years, he has
employed local personnel on an ad hoc basis to work for the company he heads;
he hires and fires at will. The major activity of the company is to offer
administrative services to VVIPs, better known as “The Prince” to the workers.
Very few people actually know the real name of the VVIP. Whenever the VVIP is
at the Kempinski private compound, security is heightened and even the adjacent
beach is closed to the public; in fact Suliman informs the district police of the
visits and the controlled access to the beach adjacent to the private compound.
The main task of the
casual workers is to serve “The Prince” whether he is at his villa, the Capo
Club or the Pavillion; once he departs, there is no job available till the next
time he visits. Once he leaves, all the staff is paid by Suliman. They work in
two shifts; day shifts from 7 to 4 and night shifts from 5 in the afternoon to
4.30 early morning the following day and paid SR200 per day worked. Two weeks ago,
the casuals went on strike as they had not been paid for one trip and an additional
six days they had been requested to come back to work. The strike was short
lived. They were called in and paid promptly before the media could make it to
the gate where they had gathered except for one journalist; Martin.
Following this incident, Suliman has taken remedial action
warning the casual workers that any disclosure of what takes place at the
private residence will have its consequences. As a punishment for the strike,
the casuals claim they have been informed there would be no bonus this year.
Many insist there are employment issues that need to be addressed; they are
afraid to forward any plaint fearing reprisals. They insist Mr Suliman is well
connected and will sue any newspaper that writes anything about the private
compound.
It is also alleged
that Mr Suliman acts as the host to top shots from both government and the
opposition at his residence but the Seychellois are never used as helpers;
Philipinos are used instead. To many residents of Baie Lazare, this is not much
of a revelation.
The private compound
has been through much controversy; from electrical fencing to using security
detachment to physically prevent the public access to the beach.
