yoodjee
07-17-07, - 03:08 PM
By LEDEDRA MARCHE
Senior FN Reporter
lededra@nasguard.com
Pegasus Wireless Corpora-tion is reportedly pulling out of Freeport and furniture and equipment are being moved out of the warehouse at night.
The electricity was shut off at the plant on Monday, The Freeport News has learned, and employment numbers have been downsize from 80 to about 18 within the past three weeks.
"Everything is now out of the warehouse. The warehouse is clean," one employee speaking only on the condition of anonymity said yesterday. "No one is saying anything and now we are worried."
In fact, the employee revealed that as of last week Monday, the furniture and computers and other equipment were being moved out.
The telephone service was cut off more than three weeks ago and there has reportedly been no sign of CEO Jasper Knabb in weeks.
Pegasus Wireless Corpora-tion produces hardware and software solutions for broadband wireless networking and Internet access applications.
The company also has a manufacturing facility in China and Taiwan and had transformed a 20,000-square foot warehouse into its corporate office and manufacturing plant in Freeport in January.
After a little hold-up with obtaining his licence, Knabb revealed that he was in the process of hiring an all-Bahamian-staff, some 280 of them, at the plant initially before he expected to move into his own building.
The Pegasus Wireless Freeport plant endured weeks of criticism before its opening after the corporation coming under heavy fire over its performance on the stock market in the U.S. and allegations of political alliance in The Bahamas.
The then Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe at the plant opening praised the Pegasus CEO for pulling off what seemed like it would have taken months to build in only taken days.
In February, however, Knabb refuted claims by a former employee that he was mistreating staff and using Grand Bahama's dire economic situation to take advantage of employees.
The allegations came after only two weeks of employment.
The Pegasus CEO also denied charges that the employees were working as casual workers without health insurance, overtime payment, job security or payment to National Insurance.
As a result of the claims, the Department of Labour in Grand Bahama revealed that it would launch an investigation into the company's employment policies.
In May, Knabb closed the plant for two weeks until after the May 2 citing a highly charged political climate at the workplace.
Days later, another former employee alleged the wireless plant in Freeport was in fact a front for a treasure hunting expedition Knabb really came here for.
However, Pegasus employees came to the defence of the embattled CEO.
Since then a number of employees have been released from the company and production is at a literal standstill and workers, after realizing that all of the furniture is gone, are uncertain of their future.
"We came back to work and still nobody is saying anything. Employees are frustrated not knowing whether they are going or coming," the worker said on Monday.
Now the workers are even uncertain if they are going to be paid because they are still reporting for work.
"This is the week they are worried about and seeing that they have reported to work this morning and everything is out, no one is saying anything," the worker revealed.
There were still some at the plant, though a handful, who were employed since its inception.
When The Freeport News team visited the site yesterday, we were told that neither Knabb or Acting Human Resources Manager Chené Williams were on premises and that they were the only two who could talk to the media.
In fact, this daily was informed that employees have made numerous attempts to reach Williams by cellphone who, herself, has not reported for work.
A SHELL — The Pegasus Wireless Corporation manufacturing plant in Freeport is reportedly cleaned out but workers still reported to work yesterday. (Photo by JENNEVA RUSSELL)
Senior FN Reporter
lededra@nasguard.com
Pegasus Wireless Corpora-tion is reportedly pulling out of Freeport and furniture and equipment are being moved out of the warehouse at night.
The electricity was shut off at the plant on Monday, The Freeport News has learned, and employment numbers have been downsize from 80 to about 18 within the past three weeks.
"Everything is now out of the warehouse. The warehouse is clean," one employee speaking only on the condition of anonymity said yesterday. "No one is saying anything and now we are worried."
In fact, the employee revealed that as of last week Monday, the furniture and computers and other equipment were being moved out.
The telephone service was cut off more than three weeks ago and there has reportedly been no sign of CEO Jasper Knabb in weeks.
Pegasus Wireless Corpora-tion produces hardware and software solutions for broadband wireless networking and Internet access applications.
The company also has a manufacturing facility in China and Taiwan and had transformed a 20,000-square foot warehouse into its corporate office and manufacturing plant in Freeport in January.
After a little hold-up with obtaining his licence, Knabb revealed that he was in the process of hiring an all-Bahamian-staff, some 280 of them, at the plant initially before he expected to move into his own building.
The Pegasus Wireless Freeport plant endured weeks of criticism before its opening after the corporation coming under heavy fire over its performance on the stock market in the U.S. and allegations of political alliance in The Bahamas.
The then Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe at the plant opening praised the Pegasus CEO for pulling off what seemed like it would have taken months to build in only taken days.
In February, however, Knabb refuted claims by a former employee that he was mistreating staff and using Grand Bahama's dire economic situation to take advantage of employees.
The allegations came after only two weeks of employment.
The Pegasus CEO also denied charges that the employees were working as casual workers without health insurance, overtime payment, job security or payment to National Insurance.
As a result of the claims, the Department of Labour in Grand Bahama revealed that it would launch an investigation into the company's employment policies.
In May, Knabb closed the plant for two weeks until after the May 2 citing a highly charged political climate at the workplace.
Days later, another former employee alleged the wireless plant in Freeport was in fact a front for a treasure hunting expedition Knabb really came here for.
However, Pegasus employees came to the defence of the embattled CEO.
Since then a number of employees have been released from the company and production is at a literal standstill and workers, after realizing that all of the furniture is gone, are uncertain of their future.
"We came back to work and still nobody is saying anything. Employees are frustrated not knowing whether they are going or coming," the worker said on Monday.
Now the workers are even uncertain if they are going to be paid because they are still reporting for work.
"This is the week they are worried about and seeing that they have reported to work this morning and everything is out, no one is saying anything," the worker revealed.
There were still some at the plant, though a handful, who were employed since its inception.
When The Freeport News team visited the site yesterday, we were told that neither Knabb or Acting Human Resources Manager Chené Williams were on premises and that they were the only two who could talk to the media.
In fact, this daily was informed that employees have made numerous attempts to reach Williams by cellphone who, herself, has not reported for work.
A SHELL — The Pegasus Wireless Corporation manufacturing plant in Freeport is reportedly cleaned out but workers still reported to work yesterday. (Photo by JENNEVA RUSSELL)