The Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal has refused a contractor’s bid to escalate a long-running employment case linked to the Sandals Resort expansion project to the Privy Council.

George Dexter Tavernier’s application for leave to appeal was dismissed by a three-judge panel, which upheld the Court’s March ruling that found him—not main contractor Kier Construction—liable for worker payments in a 2008 unfair dismissal claim.

The case concerns layoffs that occurred between October 2006 and July 2007 during construction at the resort. Workers, represented by Sundry Workers, argued they were unfairly dismissed. The central issue was whether Tavernier Construction or Kier Construction was their true employer.

An Industrial Court had initially held Kier responsible. However, in March 2025, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision, ruling Tavernier was “in fact and in law the employer.”

Tavernier sought to challenge the ruling before the Privy Council under constitutional provisions, but the Court rejected both grounds. It ruled the decision was not a final judgment qualifying for automatic appeal, and that Tavernier had not shown exceptional circumstances warranting discretionary leave.

The matter now returns to the Industrial Court to determine the core dismissal claims. The Court of Appeal also ordered Tavernier to pay costs to Kier Construction, to be assessed if not settled within 21 days.