A sick-out by 25 stenographers crippled operations at the courts yesterday as there was no one to take the official record of some proceedings.

They were reportedly protesting a number of unresolved grievances over working conditions and pay. According to well-placed sources, just six reporters reported for duty.

Privately contracted stenographers, who work under consultant Ludell Theophilus, refused to work on Friday because they were not paid.

They received their money later that evening, according to sources.

Yesterday's industrial action also included stenographers who are employed in the public service, who are upset over the lack of a career path. Some stenographers have remained in the same position for 15 years.

The Guardian understands the government plans to implement digital recorders this month. The system was pilot tested during a murder trial last year.

However, most of the recording was inaudible. Stenographers say that while they are often blamed for delays in appeals, they lack the tools to do their work properly.

They say the unit has malfunctioning machines and there is a shortage of laptops. The contracted workers are also concerned about their future employment since Theophilus' contract expires in September 2014.

Back in 2004, a report by the Court Reporting Review Committee, which was commissioned by the Office of the Attorney General, found "perennial problems with the production of transcripts".

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson also spoke of plans to establish a career path for the unit -- another recommendation in the 2004 report -- in the next budget.

The committee found that the unit had a "number of anomalies and management problems". It also found that there was little in-house training.

Court reporting was first introduced to The Bahamas in 1989 by Czerenda Court Reporting Service (CCRS), which was owned by American Randal Czerenda.

CCRS continued to provide the service until 1999 when the contract was awarded to Theophilus. The 2004 report suggested that the government should take over management of the unit and end the dual system which fostered tensions between the contracted workers and their counterparts in the public service.

The report found that the contracted reporters are able to negotiate a better salary than that offered by the public service. The Guardian was unable to contact Maynard-Gibson for comment yesterday.

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