Union representative at the Port, Gilmore Staine, said, ?In 2002, to be a member of the pension scheme was optional, but later the workers were being threatened that if they did not become a member, they [the Port] would get rid of them.?

According to Staine, the union and the management had agreed that those who wished to stop the pension scheme within five years would get a refund without any problems.

James McFoy, the general secretary of the Christian Workers Union, which represents the workers, said that when he had gone to the insurance company to query why the workers had not yet received their refunds, one of the officers told him that it was the PBL?s management that needed to sign for the workers to get their refund.

McFoy said that when he asked management why the necessary documents had not been signed, management said that it was the fault of the insurance company.

In a joint press release this evening, the PBL and the CWU stated that they were in the process of finalizing the paperwork so workers could get their money.

According to the release, by next week the refunds of the 17 workers would be finalized with Sagicor.

The press release added, ?While the management of the Port initially tried to discourage this move, it is prepared, with the trustee approval, to refund the sums desired due to the demands of these few workers as soon as the legal issues are completed.?