has ended successfully for a hotel worker who wanted to make a difference.

Head bell captain for the Sonesta Beach Hotel Mr. Raymond Russell felt receiving hotel pensions should be made easier for elderly or sick hotel employees.

"I have always been concerned about the fund,'' Mr. Russell said. "But after meeting a woman in 1989 who had become incapacitated and was not able to work any longer I decided to take a look at the constitution of the Hotel Pension Fund.

"I wanted to look at it with a view to getting a few clauses changed. One had to do with workers over 65 years old who were still working and unable to get their pension and the other was for people who were incapacitated.'' Mr. Russell added he needed to find someone to work closely with him and communicate with the hotel pension chairman and trustees.

"There were two Cabinet Ministers that I knew I could count on to give the matter all the attention that it deserved. They were Sir John Sharpe and the Hon. Quinton Edness.

"I decided on Mr. Edness because of his Health and Social Services portfolio.

I thought that he would be the best one to help me bring about change.'' Mr. Russell added: "After two years of communicating with Mr. Edness and those involved, we were quite happy that hotel trustees saw fit to change the existent clause pertaining to those over 65, who became available to get their pension while still working.

"Mr. Edness and I continued on to battle for the important clause, which was to see that incapacitated workers, who happen to be 95 percent female hotel workers, could get their benefits.'' But after achieving what he set out to do, Mr. Russell could not understand why so much pressure had to be put on the chairman and the trustees of the Hotel Pension Fund.

"They should have just done it from the humane point of view,'' he said.

Although Mr. Russell and Mr. Edness have very different political views, it didn't stop them from coming together.

"We came together for humanity. Mr. Edness was 100 percent behind me.'' After all their hard work, the clause for incapacitated workers was changed last week.

"It made me feel good to do it,'' Mr. Russell said. "I feel good doing things for people, people of any colour.

"I have been in the hotel business all my life, and I was always one to help other people. Making these changes to the pension fund has really warmed my heart, even though it's taken this long.'' Mr. Edness said he found the trustees of the fund to be very sensitive and caring people.

"I believe they have taken certain aspects of the pension fund beyond the norm to assist their employees,'' he added. "They made it possible for persons who have reached the pensionable age to get their pensions and continue in their employment.'' He added: "Those exchanges were private, but since The Royal Gazette inquired, I can confirm that we had very fruitful talks.''