Bahamas Prison Officers Association (BPOA) President Gregory Archer said yesterday two-thirds of the prison officers scheduled to work yesterday morning did not show up.
While Archer denied the officers staged a sickout, he said the association has had enough of taking its members' concerns to management and the government with no resolve, including working conditions.
"I can't say why, but obviously if you report in sick then that means the officers are sick," said Archer when asked whether officers staged a sickout.
"I guess officers over the years have been working when they are sick; now they are sick and they are taking their time.
"The job is a stressful one and when you are sick and you are tired and you are still coming to work, at the end of the day it is going to tell on your body."
Pressed on the matter, Archer said, "Now with the officers calling in sick, I know they are sick. But they are also fed up and sick at all these things being thrown at them."
Prison Superintendent Patrick Wright could not be reached for comment.
When contacted for comment, Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell said he was aware of some officers calling in sick, but had no knowledge of any new concerns.
Bell insisted there was no disruption to operations yesterday.
In an interview with The Nassau Guardian, Archer claimed that several officers are not trained for their positions and the association must take a stand.
"You can imagine we are a correctional facility now and the Bahamian public does not even know these things," he said.
"The officers are not trained. There was a bill that was passed making us correctional officers...and the majority of the staff do not know what corrections is all about.
"So, we have laws that are in place now that we have to learn during the course of the day. This is unacceptable."
In August 2014, the BPOA supported the Trade Union Congress' threat to engage in mass industrial action throughout the country over unresolved issues within the law enforcement ranks and other issues.
Yesterday, Archer said while prison officers will never engage in industrial action, he is pushing for the association to become a union.
"We are true patriots to our country, but we can speak out," Archer said.
"And at the same time our voices will be heard. It has been too long that we have been agitating.
"Now it is time for us to move forward and to present to the powers that be our goal to become a union.
"We will probably be heard and we can be more respected if we do that, so that is something that we are looking at strongly."

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