Less than two years after making two senior staff members redundant, management of Marpin 2K4 has served redundancy letters to a number of senior staff members.
This as the company reportedly continues to grapple with financial issues.
Almost nine years ago, after a lengthy and bitter court battle the company went into receivership and its name changed to Marpin 2K4.
Reports indicate that company is experiencing serious financial problems once again and at a meeting this week with the board, under the chairmanship of Francis Emmanuel, instructions were given to send at least ten staff members home.
DNO can confirm so far that among those so far receiving redundancy letters are Brian Doctrove, Augustus Juliana, Jessica Pinard Byrne, Franklyn Peter (camera man), and Jerry Henderson.
Despite reports of making “great strides” and significant progress since the departure of former general manager, Walter Maude, who it is alleged left a debt of almost $5-million, it appears that Marpin 2K4 has found itself in a “deep hole”.
Marpin 2k4 is owned jointly by WRB Enterprises and the Dominica Social Security (DSS).
The company is now managed by Pericson Isidore and when contacted told DNO, “I’m not at liberty to speak on the matter at this time.”
WAWU, representing the workers, met with Marpin on Wednesday afternoon and moments after the meeting Shop Steward at the company, Donald Rolle, is expressing “hope,” although the matter seems to be heading for a showdown.
“We will be meeting with the board hopefully by tomorrow and is hoping for the best,” Rolle said.
Armour Thomas of WAWU, who was at the meeting, declined speaking to the press, only saying, “We will be meeting with the board and so have no comments.”
In the meantime Rolle views the situation as “sad and unfortunate”.
He declined to comment on the proposed course of actions now being further contemplated.
The Board of MARPIN did not meet that week or any other week to discuss specific layoffs…(from a knowlegable source)
Mr Brian Doctrove? seriously?! that man works all hours on marpin jobs- responds to client needs speedily and is a diligent worker. i have observed him at work personally and commended his dedication…his son died and he grieved and was bk on the job in no time still recovering from that tradegy! Marpin alas! something wrong with allu. no appreciation for loyalty. i am honestly surprised.
As a former employee of marpin, this is just sad news. I was always glad that i abandoned ship the time i did because i had the foresight that many of the management staff don’t seem to have. Marpin made many financial mistakes which have placed them in the position that they are currently in. The 1st one being the way that they challenged Cable n wireless @ the time for interconnection. If they had foresight and they had the infrastructure in place to provide an ideal service such as telephone then all they had to do was give customers the phone service for free, seeing that calls from Marpin to Marpin was already free anyways so why just not give it to all subscribers and then let C&W be the ones to want interconnection as a result of they now losing customer base because …hey its a no brainer..if i can make free calls to most persons locally why should i be with a company that charges me? Then another big mistake they made was erecting that massive structure where all that was necessary was just a small office to facilitate bill paying customers and queries. House the rest of staff at Morne Daniel… Ppl have large offices in there bigger than master bedrooms for what purpose? another crucial mistake was outsourcing a local initiative to bring in good revenue…the graphic channel. How could they ever do that? That was the most ridiculous idea ever and customers now had to pay more to the new provider for a service that was worst.Poor Cassie. That company smiled when Marpin handed them that service. Now i notice that they have a manager that the incumbent doesn’t require anymore. Don’t they get it? if your services were found to be not required by a company in a lesser position how can you employ that person to now run the affairs of your company?…So much more can be said but i will just leave it as that…Peace out…For the persons who lost their jobs i encourage you to start thinking outside the box and try to dig deeper within yourselves and tap into that knowledge and skill set to try to open your own business. I rather work for myself and try to accomplish my dreams than be hired to fulfill someone eles’s own.
Mr. Doctrove is such a hard working guy…sometimes late he is in the north working making sure than customers are satisfied.
if Sat and the tax payers are paying social security, why den must socials ecurity compete with the very persons keeping socials ecurity alive? and oh Francis emmanual, tell us nuh, How did you wine an dine your self to be board chairman of marpin. garcon yu good. what about off shore mrine, yu eat everydat at subway morning nooon an nite. what about the pocket change nuh. yu good, from uwp owner yu katapaulted sommersaulted into labour camp. kongratz garcon u good francis. ohhh an yu fire kieron pinard byne daughter. well juss wait. wait. play wiff de irishman still. after de man make allyu get marpin on a platter.
It is high time management and employees begin to think outside the box and develop means and ways to stay within their competitive environment. Marpin needs to redefine its buisness strategy.
Throw out the management of Marpin..they are useless!!!!
Bring back my favorite channel nuh..Collywood TV for ever. I going to SAT.
According to Jama B – the pressure hose is going to burst
To be very honest, I think that Dominicans are very shallow people, shallow in mind and action, hence why their colonial masters came in and controlled their minds for so long. Lots of things that I read on this website as an observer over the years. I have found the minds who represents this Island disturbing. I think we as the colonial masters gave you back your Islands, but my ancestors did a clever trick, they kept your minds in slavery. No fighting power, all talk and no action. I believe that is why the people on a whole are 30 years behind in their progress. I still look at Roseau and how has the capital city of Dominica developed in 30 years. YOU LOT ARE A JOKE!!
4/10 Try harder m8
Oh yes, blame it all on Mr. Maude now. He has gone for some time now and you all had plenty of time to do better than him as you claimed you could. But from where I’m sitting, as a customer, things were far better under his management.
so why is the occupation of only one employee necessary?? cameraman?
Hes the Only one whos Position the Admin Knows ….. i guess
Someone say that we cant eat concrete but I am telling you we better start to learn to eat concrete because thats all we will have left to eat.
….don’t forget the asphalt!
It’s always sad when honest and hard working people, have to lose their jobs…. by God’s grace another door will open.
Brian Doctrove lost his son in a traffic accident last year and now this, papa met
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Who me? Yes you! Couldn’t be? Then who? Monies are missing in all the PIGGY Banks, and everyone is washing their hands. Too many sticky hands.
well, Now that Marpin has to pay Domlec for electreicity…..that would be a mean chunk of income paying a utility bill that was never paid in actual cash before. WRB has sold their shares in Domlec so now the new owners of Domlec want their money. but its only a few weeks…hmmmmmm. I guess competition in terms of paying utilities is now even….ha ha
The new majority owners of Domlec are also big players in the cable/telecommunications field and this may be a way to get hold of WRB’s stake in Marpin at a reasonable price and force through unpleasant cost saving measures beforehand. I certainly do not believe WRB wants to keep a presence in Dominica just for the sake of their interest in Marpin.
Mr Doctrove work really hard for that company, I am going to switch to SAT
i am DISTURBED by the reasons why the Dominica Social Security (DSS) took pensioners money and invested it in a company they knew would fail. It’s either MARPIN2K4 or SAT and trust me MARPIN2K4 is more vulnerable and cannot deal with the economic shocks being experienced in Dominica at the moment.
Secondly WRB no longer has an interest in DOMLEC. I understood the plan to write of the debt in MARPIN2k4 as a bad investment, contact Coopers/PriceWaterhouse.
MARPIN2K4 is operating at a deficiet, the Management and Board of DSS made a bad investment decision and they want to increase retirement age, increase payments/ deductions etc. I suspect some crookedness going on at DSS and am calling in the Integrity in Public Office (IPO) Board to investigate whether there is wrong doinggoing on inside DSS that is being swept underneath the carpet.
This country has grown so corrupt they putting former Prime Minister Patrick John in shame, they said he was corrupt. But be mindful it is the same LABOUR PARTY… CORRUPT TO THE BONE…LMAO
Yeah.then social security raise the age of retirement then raise the monthly contributions of employees.weh .meself doh wan to pay no social security.i now 30 years by the time I reach 50 they’ll probably make more stupid investments then raise the age of retirement again.i not even sure if I’ll live to receive my social security money.them people there too thief
DNO should not publicise the people who are getting fired names.
well dominica invest in your own business try to be your own buss.
the only thing that cant go wrong indca nw is agriculture work that land food must sell.
=_=”. Crash n Burn. I saw the company raise, now im gonna watch it fall.
I hope when allu have troubles, dem doh call back none o dem for help. I wud tell allu a LBM~!
i like that LBM i picked up right up away
garcon i doe hve job i doe even knw where i goin n get food 4 my child and pampers alas poor me
omg well well well wat can i say everythin happens 4 a reason they put out collywood tv pay back is takin place nw.
peeping Tom why don`t you peep yourself
so many of these people gave their lives/family/ for that company…OMG….
Blame the big bosses they are the one who get the big bonus checks.These are the ones that run the companies broke.What is DSS doing owning shares in Marpin? Is that what they do with the peoples money? They need to invest the peoples money more wisely.
It’s all Skerrit fault! lol.
how de heck de is skerrit fault dem ppl wasnt doin de job right
papa bonjay, in dis country, if the wind blow is skerrit fault, if a mango fall, iz skerrit fault, if water flowing in de river, iz skerrit fault… my gosh, free up the man name, ca eh nuh.
Well all good is he so he cannot do any wrong?
BE REAL
Collywood saw this coming, that`s why he walk away, The next one is social security, Sad for any body to loose their lively hood especially when things are already dreadful with the
country. I suspect there are more bad news to come,we can only place that band Aide on our sorry state of affairs. The Government is next and that will not surprise me.
=_=”. I smell stupid. Get away from it O_O!
This is a shame. I wonder what would have happened under. Ron’s leadership? See when greed is the only purpose and profit is the only goal. You take a man’s dream away and sooner or later you will have nightmares.
the big wigs again i smell bobol.
The name Francis Emmanuel sound familiar. Is he related to ministet Timothy by any chance. There is also a Francis Emmanuel that is running Offshore Marine – is that’s ame guy . Just asking DNO cause it has been alleged that someone by the name of Francis E had been on the Sludh fund list. I wonder if this is just one guy or different people? can someone help me cause I need to find out as a tax payer and aspiring businessman just why it’s Offshore Marine seem to be the lowest bidder on most capital projects. Maybe I can learn a thing or two about the business and so far the only person that I have been pointed to to help me is someone by the name of Francis Emmanuel. I genuinely need someone to help find out which Francis Emmanuel I must go too.
In the mean time – next level my peep
Take what allu get in the next level economy.
You cann’t say that because it’s not the laid off workers fault. I feel their pain too.
u should not be laughing…that is not a joke.people are being sent home whom I am sure have their family to care for and their mortage to pay.u might just be next or a family member or friend of yours.
i cannot be next, because I get my share of victimization under the next level long time and I have moved on. Those that put them there, and enjoyed seeing people like me being victimized will now face their quota. I hope they love it.
People this is just one more indication among many, of how dire the state of the economy really is
HOW DIRE IS IT IN THE US
Worst in the US
That Deal with WRB was not a good venture for Marpin 2k4LTD
See how the tides rolls..they Kick out the Brain Child of Marpin Ron Abraham..
Marpin 2k4LTD, needs to trim it’s channel base to able to reduce cost. approx 15-20 channels is required for a place like Dominica…
Everyone uses the internet so no need to carry Many of the channels they presently do.
Can some please try think of ways to cut cost in Marpin 2k4LTD?
Thinking Caps Needed….
I think we get too many channels for free… have pay per view..grenada and a whole lot of other countries have a basic package, if you want movie channels sports you pay….Dominicans like to cry too much .. we need to face it.. if we want things to get better in Dominica… We hate to pay in Dominica… we like too much freeness
I like all my channels thank u.
yes probably you bought the whole of dominica computers
That is why I considered Social Security’s investment in Marpin a bad investment decision from the start. Social Security should not participate in any high risk investments, especially in this current environment. The pensioners will continue to suffer from those poor decisions.
It is also good to note that WRB is finding its way out of Domlec can we link the two
Prime minister Kenny Anthony said that the region is in the throes of the greatest financial difficulties ever to hit. We are now feeling the effects of the global financial meltdown. Hope the folks at DSC get paid sooner rather than later and hope that those being laid off from Marpin get something else soon.
This morning i heard Morgan Chase sent home 19,000 employees… Now am hearing Marpin, wow!
My family is being sent home, alas am sorry to hear that. Marpin lost alot of customers when they hiked their price from $57.50 to $80.50.. The upgrade is not effective and persons are unhappy with the fact that there is always a “Dish” message. The phone never left the ground niether.
Management of Marpin need to start realizing that they are operating in a very competitive environment and cannot do business as usual, example when you are disconnected for non-payment, they still charges a $30 charge for reconnection not taking into consideration the customer could just pay the last bill and go to the competitor… and instead of investing in thios huge sensless building they should have expanded their services to the east, like Goodhope and environs.
They have really lost alot of their market share, this is sad for Dca first Cable TV company.
on the east we still pay 57.50… our reception is terrible… the upgrade was not for every parish in dominica…
When they had the opportunity many years ago to expand their base around the entire country, they didn’t seize it. If they had, maybe things would have been different today.
just poor management…Spending in the wrong places..
What nonsense is that. Sorry for those who willlose thier jobs. Some of these people have been their forever. Wow.
Take a closer look at who the manager is and you will understand why the company is in a hole and have to lay off workers.
Also, look at the LIME manager and don’t be surprised that more redundancy from LIME coming soon too. Square pegs in round holes, then people putting all the blame on “the economy”.
please give the young man a chance. if it a astaphane, nassef or shillingford u would never say that. remenmber when u have so many worker that work all these years in a company at one point this company will stop growing.
and they dont cuperate with any new manager.
FULLY AGREE~! This man is incompetent. I know this 1st hand.
The evil that men do live with them. Maybe the workers should contact the gentleman from Collywood inorder to handle their situation instead of WAWU. All them Unions are just big mouth, no biting teeth.
That’s why i never grudge a man that have high education.
Cause when you are fired and you don’t know how to mix a concrete, use a hammer, stick a pipe, run an electric wire, use a cutlass, etc… you like dog on road.
I just hope you guys got other ways and means to make ends meet.
I FEEL SORRY 4 YOU GUYS JUST HOLD STRONG
Unbelieveable….a man grew up in Dominica and does not know how to mix concrete or use a hammer
so true. ppl doh realize how important it is to learn a skill….i trying sewing, crochet, baking anything i can. when ur 2 hands can works u will always survive
i saw this lady with tears in her eyes today…hmm sad..she lost her job
When One Window Closes a Door opens…Take courage to all those who lost their jobs…God never gives us More than we can handle. My prayers go out to you.
The economy is good man!
I sympathise when people lose their job in this time, but nobosy is safe. Marpin staff should come out and protest to sack that Manager..he is useless, so now I agree with what Mr Hart did. Marpin staff, if you dont take the initiative to say out out out!! to management, you lot will be out soon. Get out on the street and press for change. But thats Dominicans, talk talk talk and no action. Sit there and hope for the best.
Not ‘sympathize’ but ’empathyze’
Marpin could not give Mr. Hart attention….was too busy trying to see who to send home and who should stay
My sympathy to all. However ay I remind Dominicans that one of their ministers did say that it is the plan of the government to double the red clinic attendance. Hey don’t blame me – just repeating what I heard from the minister. I am sure she meant well but a clinic is a clinic and no one should want to double the patronage unless the clinic is privately owned be it by Jews, Gentiles or Labor Party.
what????? Franklyn? but u all need camera men…oh my goodness….something is seriously wrong in Marpin..
If Marpin was concentrating on developing local talent instead of spending all that money in buying in overseas programs, just like what Collywood was saying, they would save a lot. Whe n will they ever learn? They should sack not the workers, but the managers..they are the ones who are suppose to make the decisions…Pericson should now resign after such a trumatic week. He lost the best local channel that people wanted, now people are losing their jobs. He should be the one to go. Marpin staff…if you dont do something to that organizations..the next meeting it could be you getting a letter. Marpin has nothing exciting to increase its customer base..its now just a matter of time before the network closes doen..When you see investors selling out..that means that ship is sinking. I SAY CALL BACK COLLYWOOD…PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LEAVING TO GO OVER TO SAT. THERE IS TROUBLE AHEAD MARPIN.
Oh shut your trap! This is NOT about Collywood which did NOTHING to help Marpin’s situation.
Jeez man!
pynard Byrne – boy when the chicken come home to roost a desperate chicken have no wespais Imais. I feel bad for everyone of them and will never ever laugh at any body during difficult times.
How sad – this is rough. Marpin is practically owned by the people of Dominica – our Social Security money and to see people being let go like that forces the thinking mind into percepective and rationality. As a citizen of a country whose money is invested in corporation like Marpin citizens working for these corporation would normally have a stronger feeling of job security.
How Can the people nt question now whether or not our social security investment is safe particularly where the unemployment situation is going from worse to Armageddon.
What are the chances of these people picking up another job in our current situation. If we try to put the politics aside and just think of these families , the disappointment , the denial of an income what do we have to fall back on but politics. Jobs, job lost, available jobs, potential economic growth, cost of living – turn it, twist , bend it, spin it , compare it with America or other small island state , it is politics. When we earnestly try to figure out why these people lost their jobs what else can it be but politics. It is politics why Marpin is not making money. Again twist it bend it if you like but reality is reality and as we all know the truth is s stubborn .
Dominica I beg thee – let us be honest with ourselves and save our country for our children. Things have not been right for the last 13 years and there are no signs of the coming rain. We can sit by and perish in the desert of uncertainty and nlatant stagnation or change our plans or attitude towards what is fools gold , bling or the real deal. . Let us stop running at mirage and go in search of a real water source cause our carcasses will lie in litter along the path that now leads to no where.
So I say all of this to avoid the politics and to not marginalized the plight of the families who will be affected but allas I can’t even trick my own sensitivities which I can control . So I must therefore admit that political environment is sickening and destroying our country and the root cause analysis points to the RED BUG – TWIST IT, THUMB ME DOWN, CRITIC MY LOG BUT PROVE ME WRONG.
Very sad when people lose their lively hood..very sad indeed. Marpin needs a complete management revamping and the only way to get that company out of trouble is to bring in someone who has experience and can run a TV Network properly. Those managers at Marpin are cow boys and cow girls who are old in thinking and ideas. Give the network to s proper manager. I am sure if all you Haters on here beg Mr Hart I am sure he will bring Marpin through its crisis…so it seems Collywood made the right choice to move from a sinking ship. Sad day very sad for those employees. I suggest some of you try and contact Collywood. You never know.
Only a really, really stupid person would make this whole thing about Collywood. And to suggest that Junior Hart leads Marpin..My God! This country has gone mad!
Atleast he would do a better job than the idiots you lot have running things over there. Collywood has only been in Dominica for 1 year and they are growing from strength to strength. Dont you honestly think that they should give Mr Hart a chance to run Marpin network? You lot need an international brain to get you lot out of trouble.. Thats my opinion. The Chairman should call Mr Hart and see if they can work out a deal lol.
Unlike LIME that is sending home their lowest paid staff and keeping their managers. That makes more business sense.
Hmm I wonder if the agency is behind this
That’s crazy but DNO need to look into LIME too cause they sending some people go too next month they have a whole department going home
Wow, that is sad!! Some of those persons were there from the beginning as far as I am aware. They have been there for more than twenty five years fighting to make this company go places and BOOM…….just like that, they are out of the picture. Truly sad……..
If Collywood would pay Marpin there would be no need for redundancies.
How much money so will Collywood be paying to marpin to keep its workers. Stupid and comment. 100 dollars you going n pay them a month just now.
And the day it reach a hundred dollars a month that’s it,.. I quit…..I disconnecting Marpin the very same day.
ALASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…..don’t do this to the people. Ron would have done better..but those wicked, “jalousie” people do what they wanted but doh worry….those that do the bad and think they sitting pretty will have to pay some day.
Some one squandered Marpin’s money. I think that we all should leave Marpin, to see how deeper they will be in that hole, there are other options
HOPE MY DAY NEVER COMES IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES..
OH BOI
what goes around comes back around,jus that i hate to see alot of people going to be lay off…
then they gonna make jobs for their boys and girls!!
where is the next part of my comment, jobs for their boys and girls from the other company
***A CLOSER LOOK***
“Marpin 2k4 is owned jointly by WRB Enterprises and the Dominica Social Security (DSS)”.
WOWW!!! I don’t know but I just don’t think the Dominica social security should be owning private enterprise.
Don’t get me wrong. I know it is all about investing the money for the maintenance of social security payments BUT…..
I think DSS need to reviewed it’s investments formula CLOSER!!!.
In addition, I am sorry for this unfortunate news.
-Thanks
I have to agree with you on that one.. Not in Guadeloupe Social Security could own companies and Land! And the just raised Social Security by .25% Only in Dominica these things happen..Persons are more concerned about lambasing each other than looking out for their brothers and sisters and neighbours. I think this is an unfortunate situation and my heart goes out to all those affected.
Mr. Bernard Nicholas, head of the Dominica Trade Union is on the investment committee of the Dopminica Social Security. He is bound to make decisions in the interest of the workers one would think.
Trueman: “I just don’t think the Dominica social security should be owning private enterprise.”
Huh? Why not?
Well, maybe they should revisit their management and policies!
I am sorry for all those who have lost their jobs. This cannot be an easy thing!
I am sympathetic to your cause. It will be difficult at first but keep plugging away, you will come out on top.