THE JAMAICA Tourist Board (JTB) says it has paid J$4.6 million (US$71,000) to Marie Deeble Walker, former advertising manager for its New York office, in settling a multimillion-dollar wrongful dismissal suit filed by the former employee.
Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism, speaking during yesterday's meeting of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said the move to quash the lawsuit was spurred by mounting legal costs being faced by the Tourist Board.
BOARD'S DECISION
"The Board took the decision that the clock was ticking in terms of legal fees and rather than continue to incur costs, we negotiated a settlement with her," he said. He explained that the formula used to arrive at the figure was equivalent to Mrs. Deeble Walker being made redundant.
But, pressed on the considerations influencing the settlement, Mr. Pennicook all but admitted the Board had lost confidence in its ability to win the case after the New York Supreme Court ruled there was cause for action in the case.
Asked by PAC chairman Audley Shaw, if he was aware of whether Mrs. Deeble Walker faced a hearing prior to her dismissal, the JTB head responded: "I am not aware of a fair hearing being given to the employee."
Mr. Pennicook also admitted that the lack of such a hearing could have been the basis on which the Board hinged its decision to seek a settlement.
In December 2002, Mrs. Walker filed the lawsuit against the JTB when she was fired after 22 years of service. She claimed she was wrongfully dismissed by the Board "who failed to follow the termination procedures set forth in a Condition of Employment document provided to staff".
