Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASMARA47
2010-02-23 10:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
NEPOTISM REIGNS AT ASMARA PALACE HOTEL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000047
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL PINS ER
SUBJECT: NEPOTISM REIGNS AT ASMARA PALACE HOTEL
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000047
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL PINS ER
SUBJECT: NEPOTISM REIGNS AT ASMARA PALACE HOTEL
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Management of the Eritrean government-owned Asmara
Palace Hotel (formerly the Intercontinental Hotel) has
started arresting employees for bad performance or because of
favoritism, according to a reliable embassy source. The
goverment (GSE) took over management of the Asmara Palace in
October 2008 because the hotel was unprofitable under
InterCon management. The GSE hired former fighters in the
Eritrean war of independence as the new managers. Former
fighters enjoy privileged status in Eritrean society, but few
have any education or other skills.
2. (C) Over the last several months, these managers have
hired their relatives to work in the hotel. These relatives
are poor performers and have clashed with the other employees
(who are mostly national service conscripts),according to
the source. When confronted about their poor work
performance, these employees tell their fighter relatives,
who then have the accusing employees arrested. The embassy
source stated in January a secretary who had worked at the
hotel for over seven years was arrested and imprisoned when
she changed jobs and removed some work-related documents and
installed them on her computer in her new office. When
management found out about this she was arrested and sent to
the jail in downtown Asmara. (Note: Source has also
approached post management for a job, saying she was
desperate to leave the hotel because of the poor management).
2. (C) Comment: The quality of both the product and the
service at the Asmara Palace has deteriorated over the last
year. The former-fighter managers do not know how to run a
hotel. Prices have increased to the point where the mediocre
product is no longer good value. Post is not surprised to
hear the former fighters are abusing their positions.
Tabler-Stone
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/IP/SPC/SO, INR,
AF/E, LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2030
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL PINS ER
SUBJECT: NEPOTISM REIGNS AT ASMARA PALACE HOTEL
Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) Management of the Eritrean government-owned Asmara
Palace Hotel (formerly the Intercontinental Hotel) has
started arresting employees for bad performance or because of
favoritism, according to a reliable embassy source. The
goverment (GSE) took over management of the Asmara Palace in
October 2008 because the hotel was unprofitable under
InterCon management. The GSE hired former fighters in the
Eritrean war of independence as the new managers. Former
fighters enjoy privileged status in Eritrean society, but few
have any education or other skills.
2. (C) Over the last several months, these managers have
hired their relatives to work in the hotel. These relatives
are poor performers and have clashed with the other employees
(who are mostly national service conscripts),according to
the source. When confronted about their poor work
performance, these employees tell their fighter relatives,
who then have the accusing employees arrested. The embassy
source stated in January a secretary who had worked at the
hotel for over seven years was arrested and imprisoned when
she changed jobs and removed some work-related documents and
installed them on her computer in her new office. When
management found out about this she was arrested and sent to
the jail in downtown Asmara. (Note: Source has also
approached post management for a job, saying she was
desperate to leave the hotel because of the poor management).
2. (C) Comment: The quality of both the product and the
service at the Asmara Palace has deteriorated over the last
year. The former-fighter managers do not know how to run a
hotel. Prices have increased to the point where the mediocre
product is no longer good value. Post is not surprised to
hear the former fighters are abusing their positions.
Tabler-Stone