L-R Joseph Sebastian, Thankappan Ani, Shaji Podiyan and Anil Sahadevan are four of the 12 Indian nationals who all want to go home

Tired, hungry and defeated is how 12 Indian workers feel after a horrifying period of four to six months in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where they have been abandoned by their former employer.

The men are seeking to have their case now banking on the Labour Tribunal of the TCI to provide some measure of justice for them.

The 12 men, who told this newspaper that they simply want to go home, are living in the Kew Town area in dire straits with no electricity, water and often times no food as they await a hearing between themselves and former employer, Wellington Robinson of McLean & Sons Contracting.

The men are Joseph Sebastian, Sudhir Bhosale, Satish Bhosale, Sunil Bhosale, Dnyandev Devkar, Thankappan Ani, Arjan Singh, Jagtar Singh, Anil Sahadevan, Ramdharas Sharma, Shaji Podiyan and Chouhan Ramesh.

Joseph spoke on behalf of the disgruntled men, as they met with this newspaper, to let the public know what has been going on as many onlookers have seen them on the streets walking aimlessly.

“I came here last August as an electrician with McLean & Sons Contracting and we started a project last year at his apartment complex. Earlier this year he told me that he didn't have any more jobs and he would pay me in February and we agreed. On April 4 th he gave me $750 to share between 12 men and I was so shocked.”

Joseph explained that he understands if the business was not doing as well and says he was willing to work somewhere else until he could afford the plane ticket, but Robinson told him no.

“We asked for our permits or assistance in getting one, so we could pursue other jobs while we were here in a strange land without money or food.”

“It is very bad, now we live in a one room apartment and six of us live in his former office. My salary was agreed to be $1400 a month and the others agreed to be paid $1000 a month. So I would say he owes me just over $6000 and the others about $4000, all we are asking for is the money he owes us, so we can buy our tickets home.”

The men all confirmed that they are not looking to find jobs in the Turks and Caicos Islands but rather be paid so they can afford the plane fare home and put the experience behind them.

“We all have families back home and it is very hard for us not to even be able to call home and speak with them, several persons have been generous and sympathetic to us, but we need justice and hopefully the Tribunal will provide that.”

When contacted Mr. Robinson came to The SUN office and stated that only two of the men (Arjan Singh, Jagtar Singh) are his employees and they worked in Middle Caicos on a farm.

“I believe I am the victim here. I had enquired about obtaining some Indian workers and had contact with an agent by the name of Sudish. We talked about the possibilities but never agreed on anything or bringing the men here.

“The next thing I know is that two men show up at the airport stating that they are working for me and they have one of my employment contracts in hand. It is the standard contract which I showed their agent and told him were the conditions all my workers agree to. He went ahead conducted the agreements without me knowing and they came here,” said Robinson.

The contractor explained that more guys starting showing up with his contracts and travel letters that were cancelled weeks before. “I felt sorry the guys and housed them in my office and apartment until they could return home which they have not as yet.”

No date in the case has been issued as yet.