Unruly J'can workers threaten hotel jobs in US By Balford Henry, Senior Staff Reporter A JAMAICAN worker has been sent home from the Opryland Hotel in Nashville and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security says it is concerned that the hotel chain may stop recruiting Jamaicans to work in its hotels. The Ministry would not disclose yesterday the name of the worker sent home from the Opryland, regarded as the largest hotel and convention centre in the world, boasting 2,884 rooms. However, it is understood that he was flown to the Miami International Airport on Tuesday to catch a flight home following an incident on September 19. According to a report sent to the Ministry on Monday by deputy liaison officer for the programme, Henry McGhie, Jamaican workers with Opryland were given permission to stage a birthday party last week Wednesday at their housing estate. Complaints were made during the night about the loudness of the music. The Jamaicans refused to turn down the music after the police were called. A confrontation developed, after which the worker was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and inciting a riot. He was taken to Court Thursday, at which an agreement was made that he would be released, on condition that he was repatriated to Jamaica. He left Nashville on Tuesday. Senior adviser at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Anthony Irons, said yesterday that the incident had soured relations between Opryland and its parent company Gaylord Entertainment and the Jamaicans. Gaylord, which has been involved with the programme for over four years and which had planned to recruit additional Jamaican workers next year, was now considering pulling out of the programme, he said. The company had been steadily increasing recruitment over the years. The number for 2001 was some 30 per cent over 2000. "This could cause a serious problem for us," Mr. Irons said yesterday. He admitted that although 287 workers were sent to work at the Opryland Hotel, only 248 were still on the job. The other 38 had gone AWOL (absent without leave). Mr. Irons said that the management of the hotel became very upset during a meeting between the liaison officer, management and about 100 of the Jamaican workers, when some of the workers suggested that the United States got what it deserved in the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11. "The report from the liaison officer said that the workers were very boisterous and aggressive and some said that the United States got what it deserved. The management left the meeting, immediately," Mr Irons said. There had been problems for several months at the Opryland. Several of the female Jamaican workers had been accused earlier this year of carrying on prostitution on the premises.
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