Bahamas Prison Officers Association (BPOA) President Gregory Archer said yesterday he would take legal action if National Security Minister Keith Bell made good on his "threat" in the Senate on Monday.
Bell blasted the Police Staff Association and the 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".
"To threaten us is unacceptable," said Archer during a press conference. "I personally am tired of it because this is my livelihood. This is what I do for a living. This is my patriotic contribution to my country.
"To be threatened because I can speak up for the protection of my life or my welfare, I have a serious issue with that... I think Mr. Bell's statements were rude and in poor taste because he was very disrespectful. We have the right to defend the welfare of those who have elected us to represent them."
Members of the Bahamas National Citizens Coalition (BNCC) and Democratic National Alliance (DNA) joined the PSA and BPOA during the march. The march was organized by the BNCC. Bell labeled the PSA as nothing more than a "political tool" that "disrespects the office of commissioner". PSA Executive Chairman Dwight Smith said the march was not political and the association is no organization's tool.
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.
Archer made a similar comment yesterday.
"The association is prepared to defend itself through legal action if it needs to be done," he said. "We are citizens like anyone else. We are doing our jobs. We are not breaking any laws. We are only agitating for proper representation and also for our problems to be resolved. We have been working under these conditions for years."
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