Riteway staff trapped in store during TS Ernesto
.png)
A staff member confirmed to VINO that someone in management informed workers on that day that “money has to be made” before exiting the store and leaving the workers behind.
30 workers slept on furniture inside Riteway
About thirty workers were on shift that day. VINO was also informed that workers on shift were instructed by police officers to remain indoors inside the supermarket.
“Unfortunately, the manager did not close the store early due to the weather,” VINO’s source said.
The workers, some of whom have families and children, had to sleep on furniture upstairs. Most of the employees were part-time workers whose shift would end during the course of closing hours between 9 and 10 p.m.
Riteway was contacted for comment, however, no response was received by publishing time. VINO will continue to follow this story and give an update when available.
Ernesto caused heavy rainfall and flooding in the Virgin Islands, turning into a category 1 Hurricane on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
.png)
Follow Us On
72 Responses to “Riteway staff trapped in store during TS Ernesto”
That should have been complimentary food and drinks while treated like hostages.
People DO NOT SEEM TO LEARN from the previous August Flood, Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Covid or anything else!!!!
Take the time while you don’t have electricity and after you get it back to ask God to change any sinful way you are living, that you need to REPENT from and CHANGE. It DOES NOT STOP AT REPENTING.
I guess they will blame the last minute customers who patron their stores. RTW & management please do better next time.
They have homes, family, and children to attend to as well.
the US Dollar got some of U like that
They had the option of staying where the fu@$ they live with family or friends
Try gu sid down(where they not aware of the pending storm coming to the country where them live but the money!!!!!
You are forgetting that the morning of the storm was like a regular morning. Although we were under a watch/warning, please remember that all employees all around the country had gone out to work in the morning as usual. It wasn’t until later that businesses started closing early and letting off employees.
So don’t go blaming Riteway employees. They couldn’t just walk out the door without proper arrangements/instructions from their employer.
So blame riteway, let the public hear what their reasoning would have been , knowing fully well that some of those employees had families snd homes to look after because of the storm .
The Government needs to take a stand. In cases of emergencies, when the government stipulates everyone should be off the road by a certain time, employers who put their staff in that predicament should be heavily fined. If people are required to be off the street by 8 pm, a business cannot close at 8 pm, it should be closed 7 pm the lastest. BVI stop playing.
Unquestionably, Riteway don’t give a rat’s @$$ about its employees and their families,,security and well-being, valuing profit over th well-being of their employees. This is exploitation, abuse, etc. The VI just completed a 190 years of emancipation of physical slavery , and 70 years of festival celebrating emancipation. Is this an example of modern day slavery? Hon L. Smith, you need to address this or it hits too close to home? Riteway must recognized as the worst employer of the year, shoukd it not?
Gosh man this is upsetting between the workers & management. 30+ workers?!
Slavery is over. Hellooo we just celebrated emancipation. This is why I dont like the work permit system, forein workers contracted for a year+ take licks like nothing, and the managers get used to abusing people.
Iv been there, iv had managers disrespect me. Guess what like I said before I walk on them & thats why they dont want to hire local, ill go right home to my bed and be comfortable when they start their crap while paying minimum.
Slavery is over.
We all know this is reckless beyond common sense.
I blame the government for this because they make sure every businesses close including riteway.
Riteway don’t pay the staff properly to be treating them like that.
Bunch of wicked bitc#es
How I wish we could boycott RTW.
managements part to refer to making money and disregarding the lives of employees and their families. Past sickening.
Also I blame the government for allowing riteway to do what they like
Time to get serious with riteway
There was at least one bar in Long Bush that kept its bar staff overnight as well as they had customers stay and drink.
No one under no circumstances should be trapped at work during a storm. I understand these essential places must be opened to serve the public, however, these same staff that serve us need to attend to themselves as well.
If we hear a storm coming, what about 2 to 3 days, prior to the storm open later hours, giving persons time enough to shop.....dont even know if that would help because there are always the ones who enjoy strolling in last minute still....
What I am trying to say is work out a way that your staff can prepare prior to the storm.
Some people just mean......they rather work to the bone, than to know you home with a few free hours.
For us the Community, we need to be more responsible and vigilant. We hear a storm approaching and we relax until the wind begin to blow. Some of us after the storm we say "I did not know it was that serious". Come on, we getting constant updates.
What is so hard and wrong to purchase couple non- perishable items prior to? We too are being selfish when we waltz in stores last minute to shop, not considering the people serving us has to go home as well.
If the store has to close in our faces, we will then fuss and say bad things about the businesses.
Keep it real and be considerate. If we all play our part well, things will run smoothly.
Whoever in Government is responsible for lock down, curfew & fines should look into this seriously. It's better to be safe than sorry. The day of the storm, according to the time it is predicted to hit us, why not force businesses to close at a reasonable time?
Did Irma & Ernesto not teach us anything?
Are we waiting for some grand signal???
When will we wake up?
How they ate ?
No bath ?
Couldn't protect their family or home
Sue them MC
A perfect way to show Rite Way this is unacceptable is to boycott the store. One week should suffice. We can survive off other supermarkets. Where are the strong-willed BVIslanders? Are we too weak that we allow this to happen?
We have only ourselves to blame if this is allowed to continue.
This is shameful. Hopefully they get compensated. They need get 2 days vacation and 2 days pay for that sh** …..
hese companies can commit such acts because, well, they can!
The need for politicians to wine and dine with the business elite, in mansions, villas, "coves, and inlets of Natures Secrets", necessitates such a dismissive response, on their part.
And one thing with those folks, when politicians becomes embroiled with them on such a personal level, there's really nothing that they can say, with regards to any laws, that they, the business elite, have to follow!
It's preety much one "buddy", shaking hands,and in agreement of the dismissiveness of laws, with another "buddy"!