Things did get quieter with the passage of time, the widening of the bracket of essential workers and the death of the idea for workers to become unionized. But, they didn’t get better. It was like being in some horror movie or dream and having the sense to worry more when things got quiet after a recent din. But, none of this, as unbelievable as some of it seemed, was a dream or a movie.

Before the entire mess, we workers were grateful that we were employed by R. Allen Stanford and not any other employer… particularly the Government. We worked and we were paid on time. Now, we were working and receiving emails advising us that “owing to recent reduced revenue collections, cash flow projections provided to the bank are not being adhered to.” And, we were being asked to continue to be patient since the “bank” had “requested revised cash flow projections for its consideration in the context of the requested payroll and other required… expenditure.”

This sort of communication was a far cry from the sort we’d received from our boss R. Allen Stanford right before everything blew up. Back then, in an email signed RAS, Stanford had assured us that we had nothing to worry about. He was certain that we needn’t worry about any recession; all was well with the financial health of the Stanford Group of Companies. Now, here we were, learning and living the reality as workers of a badly ailing group of companies.

A letter dated July 24th brought us the news we’d known for some time: we would all be severed and some of us recalled. Prior to this letter being received by all employees, I was summoned by Human Resources.   I was told that in the current climate, it was important for it to be known whether or not I was planning to return to school.  I considered this a fair question given the need for the newspaper to have a stable staff, my first unceremonious departure and my unnatural inkling for higher education.

I remember sitting there in the Human Resource manager’s office contemplating the question. I thought of the offer letter I had received from a particular University. I thought of one persistent female staff member who had been on my back as if sent by some avenging God: “so you are going away this year right?” (You always know the “messengers” from their behaviour.)

Stifling a smile, I truthfully assured the worried-looking manager that I had no immediate plans to return to school. The meeting ended with assurances that I’d given management the answer it was seeking and should worry no more (if I was worrying) about my future with the company.

The July 24th letter explained that effective 31^st July all workers would be severed since the company, “despite concerted efforts”, was continuing to experience “fiscal constraints”. Management therefore needed to reduce and reorganize operations. We learnt that all of this was at the bidding of Stanford’s local legal representative- who if my memory serves me correctly, was also supposed to be at bat for us employees to ensure that we would be paid severances- sooner or later....

My severance letter, complete with inaccurate calculations, had to be redone once or twice. I got the impression that my insistence for 100% accuracy was not well received.  During those days, it was strange how simple questions and attempts to get certain things done right always seemed to be taken as evidence that one wanted the company to fail….

Coming Next Tuesday: #17 The Day of Reckoning