It's the kind of thing that blindsided the entire staff after a memo was sent out last night, requesting that everyone needed to attend a mandatory meeting at 11 a.m. this morning.

When everyone was congregated, the upper management delivered the news like an executive sledge hammer: they were closing down Golden Princess, and approximately only 60 of their 270 staff would be retained after the process was over.

The reasons given by the Executives at this morning's meeting were that business is slow at the establishment, the rent is too high, and there is not sufficient funds to keep casino open and employ everyone on staff.

Our colleagues at CTV3 managed to grab video of some of the equipment being moved out of the Golden Princess building, and they were reportedly being taken to the parent Princess Casino, where those 60 workers will also be transferred to as well. But, you may have caught it in our info about the number of now unemployed persons that it may be more than 130 Belizeans. There are conflicting reports, and we've not been able to confirm the actual number, but reports to 7News are that it may be as much as 210 persons who got laid off today.

To add to their worries, those workers are concerned about benefits that they are due for long years of service to the company because there has not been any conversation with them if and when they will be paid their severance package. CTV 3 News reports that they've made attempts to interview the owner and the members of the Board of Directors after the meeting, but it was to no avail.