Police Staff Association (PSA) Executive Chairman Dwight Smith said yesterday he was baffled by comments National Security Minister Keith Bell made in the Senate on Monday. Bell blasted the PSA and the Bahamas Prison Officers Association (BPOA), claiming they were acting like unions. He pledged that the government will "deal with this". Both associations held a march earlier this month over outstanding issues regarding salaries, promotions, insurance and "disrespect from the government".
"It is kind of strange," said Smith when contacted for comment.
"Why would we want to be discussing that instead of looking at the issues? We agree that we are not unionized. We are not trying to be unionized.
"Union is not a bad word. Why are we making it seem like that is a bad word? We are an association that represents the interests of officers. That's all we want to do."
Members of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and Bahamas National Citizens Coalition (BNCC) joined the PSA and BPOA during the march.
Bell labeled the PSA as nothing more than a "political tool" that "disrespects the office of commissioner".
"So now we are with the DNA," Smith said. "When are we going to be with the PLP? Last time it was the FNM. This time it's the DNA. Who else are we going to be a political tool for?
"I don't know of any disrespect. We are going to continue to represent the interest of our officers. I think everything we did was within the realm of our laws."
He added that, "Our walk was not a political walk. The facts are there. There was a permit. Our walk was for the security forces. That's what we did."
Last week, Smith said the police force has launched an investigation into whether the PSA associated with a political organization when it marched downtown. Smith said a senior police officer served the association's executives letters, which indicated they were under investigation for associating with a political organization. He said the association will challenge any attempt by the police force to charge and reprimand officers over the allegations, which he suggested are unfounded.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
