Court judgment against their employer who owes them a total of $10,000.

Canard Pascoe, who failed to appear at the court hearing, owns the Prego restaurant on Reid Street in Hamilton, which is currently closed.

All four employees who are owed wages appeared before the hearing individually in front of Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis.

Mr. Graham Hodge, former assistant manager, told the court he is owed $8,000 in wages, vacation and severance pay. He worked at Prego for four years.

Others involved are cashier Ms Gina Knight, owed $485, waiter Mr. Marco Zanuccoli, owed $1,000, and kitchen porter Mr. Elvis Bailey, owed $800.

Mr. Hodge said: "Pascoe has not turned up today. We believe he is off the Island. He should have been here.

"We have all received judgments against him but I do not know what we do now.

I am owed a lot of money but I am not sure it is worth the others taking him to court, unless we get together.'' Earlier this year Pascoe had attempted to renew his licence for the restaurant but his former staff complained and it was refused.

Mr. Hodge said that he had seen an advertisement for staff at the restaurant.

But he said yesterday: "It is not open yet so I do not think it will re-open.'' Mr. Bailey said: "I have heard rumours that it is going to re-open but that is all at the moment.''