THREATENING a national strike, union leaders came out in heavy support of the Bahamas Electrical Workers Union yesterday as its members walked off the job for the second time in less than two months.

Shortly after staff at Bahamas Power and Light reported to work, they walked out to protest alleged poor treatment by management and an incomplete industrial agreement that expired four years ago. #Several unions came out to support the hundreds of workers who were outside BPL’s Blue Hill Road head office and they made it clear that the country should brace itself for a national strike where unionised workers show their strength by withdrawing their service. #Kimsley Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Public Services Union, was the first to hint of a strike. #“I am here in support and solidarity with my brothers and sisters of the greatest constituency which is the workers of this country,” he said. “There has been a rippling effect of what is happening in relation to the issues that concern the workers of this country. The government’s dismissive attitude towards addressing the issues that concern workers of this country. #“This morning we are very concerned. Based on the landscape of things, we are looking at something that’s going to be a collaborative effort coming shortly, where the entire workforce of this country will come together and there are some things that will be brought to a screeching halt in an effort to get the attention to those persons who can address the concerns that we have had. #“I’m wondering whether or not this is the same Prime Minister that indicated that the PLP handled the labour movement in a strange way. I don’t know what the attitude is now because we can’t seem to get an audience with the ministers or permanent secretaries with a view to address the workers’ concerns in this country. It is going to be a surprise shortly. It’s going to be a surprise. You are going to open a gift.” #Asked what he thought of a general election being called at a time like this, Kyle Wilson, BEWU president, said outstanding matters should have been resolved first. #“Based on the uncertainty I think if we are at the table, we should try to clarify those matters before we move forward with a national election,” Mr Wilson said.

Shortly after staff at Bahamas Power and Light reported to work, they walked out to protest alleged poor treatment by management and an incomplete industrial agreement that expired four years ago.

Several unions came out to support the hundreds of workers who were outside BPL’s Blue Hill Road head office and they made it clear that the country should brace itself for a national strike where unionised workers show their strength by withdrawing their service.

Kimsley Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Public Services Union, was the first to hint of a strike.

“I am here in support and solidarity with my brothers and sisters of the greatest constituency which is the workers of this country,” he said. “There has been a rippling effect of what is happening in relation to the issues that concern the workers of this country. The government’s dismissive attitude towards addressing the issues that concern workers of this country.

“This morning we are very concerned. Based on the landscape of things, we are looking at something that’s going to be a collaborative effort coming shortly, where the entire workforce of this country will come together and there are some things that will be brought to a screeching halt in an effort to get the attention to those persons who can address the concerns that we have had.

“I’m wondering whether or not this is the same Prime Minister that indicated that the PLP handled the labour movement in a strange way. I don’t know what the attitude is now because we can’t seem to get an audience with the ministers or permanent secretaries with a view to address the workers’ concerns in this country. It is going to be a surprise shortly. It’s going to be a surprise. You are going to open a gift.”

Asked what he thought of a general election being called at a time like this, Kyle Wilson, BEWU president, said outstanding matters should have been resolved first.

“Based on the uncertainty I think if we are at the table, we should try to clarify those matters before we move forward with a national election,” Mr Wilson said.

 

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is monitoring the situation in Cuba after protests there but noted there have been no reports of Bahamians on the island requiring assistance amid the unrest.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it has taken note of reports of the July 11 protest in Cuba resulting from food and medicine shortages. #Reportedly, there were injuries with at least one fatality confirmed by the government, the statement said. #“On Monday, July 12, public transportation, retail stores, clinics, vaccination centres and government offices were operational. According to authorities, mobile telephone services and internet were not operational due to mechanical issues,” the statement added. #“On July 13 mobile phone services were restored. There were no reports of Bahamians requiring assistance due to the protests. Bahamians who contacted the embassy were advised to limit their movement around the country to acquiring basic essentials.” #The ministry, through The Bahamas Embassy in Havana, continues to monitor the situation.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it has taken note of reports of the July 11 protest in Cuba resulting from food and medicine shortages.

Reportedly, there were injuries with at least one fatality confirmed by the government, the statement said.

“On Monday, July 12, public transportation, retail stores, clinics, vaccination centres and government offices were operational. According to authorities, mobile telephone services and internet were not operational due to mechanical issues,” the statement added.

“On July 13 mobile phone services were restored. There were no reports of Bahamians requiring assistance due to the protests. Bahamians who contacted the embassy were advised to limit their movement around the country to acquiring basic essentials.”

The ministry, through The Bahamas Embassy in Havana, continues to monitor the situation.

 

IN response to unionised staff walking off the job yesterday to protest "unfair treatment", Bahamas Power and Light issued a statement calling the walk out illegal and the claims unfounded.

“Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) values and appreciates its line staff, many of whom have gone and continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that our customers are serviced even in these trying and sometimes frightening times,” BPL said. #“The company seeks always to treat our staff with respect and dignity, and to reward them according to their work and the terms of the industrial agreement. BPL takes exception, however, to a number of claims made during an illegal industrial action taken at the Peter I Bethel Building today, Monday, June 28, 2021. #“It was falsely claimed that executive management has refused to sit with the line union and discuss employee benefits. The union president has, in fact, met with the chief executive officer, the executive director and the director of human resources many times, including a meeting that was held in the training room with union executives, BPL board and BPL executives.” #BPL rejected the assertion that benefits have been denied to “many deserving employees” and rejected the claim that there exists at BPL an environment of “gross favouritism,” unfair promotions, unfair hiring practices, and what were called “reckless skip-overs.” #The statement continued, “It was said that most departments in the main HQ have been affected by COVID-19, and that more than once the CEO has shut down remote workspace, forcing people to come and work in (the) office. We have established our COVID-19 protocols in accordance with recommendations of the health professionals and communicated those protocols to employees and their union representatives.” #In response to claims BPL was “forcing” some Abaco staff to go home, the company said after the passing of Hurricane Dorian, BPL was the first to provide private air services for the evacuation of employees who wanted to leave Abaco and their families. #“The employees were temporarily assigned throughout the operations in New Providence and to a lesser degree, the Family Islands, with the understanding that they were expected to return as needed in Abaco. In September 2020, the employees of Abaco that remained in New Providence were advised of the need for them to return to their duties in Abaco on November 1, 2020. Following a request from the employees and their union representatives to have employees remain until April 30, 2021, employees were advised to return to Abaco on June 1, 2021.” #The statement did not address union allegations that staff at remote locations in the Family Islands have to defecate in bushes as there are no facilities for them to relieve themselves.

“Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) values and appreciates its line staff, many of whom have gone and continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that our customers are serviced even in these trying and sometimes frightening times,” BPL said.

“The company seeks always to treat our staff with respect and dignity, and to reward them according to their work and the terms of the industrial agreement. BPL takes exception, however, to a number of claims made during an illegal industrial action taken at the Peter I Bethel Building today, Monday, June 28, 2021.

“It was falsely claimed that executive management has refused to sit with the line union and discuss employee benefits. The union president has, in fact, met with the chief executive officer, the executive director and the director of human resources many times, including a meeting that was held in the training room with union executives, BPL board and BPL executives.”

BPL rejected the assertion that benefits have been denied to “many deserving employees” and rejected the claim that there exists at BPL an environment of “gross favouritism,” unfair promotions, unfair hiring practices, and what were called “reckless skip-overs.”

The statement continued, “It was said that most departments in the main HQ have been affected by COVID-19, and that more than once the CEO has shut down remote workspace, forcing people to come and work in (the) office. We have established our COVID-19 protocols in accordance with recommendations of the health professionals and communicated those protocols to employees and their union representatives.”

In response to claims BPL was “forcing” some Abaco staff to go home, the company said after the passing of Hurricane Dorian, BPL was the first to provide private air services for the evacuation of employees who wanted to leave Abaco and their families.

“The employees were temporarily assigned throughout the operations in New Providence and to a lesser degree, the Family Islands, with the understanding that they were expected to return as needed in Abaco. In September 2020, the employees of Abaco that remained in New Providence were advised of the need for them to return to their duties in Abaco on November 1, 2020. Following a request from the employees and their union representatives to have employees remain until April 30, 2021, employees were advised to return to Abaco on June 1, 2021.”

The statement did not address union allegations that staff at remote locations in the Family Islands have to defecate in bushes as there are no facilities for them to relieve themselves.

 

Access Industries, the Paradise Island developer that blocked one access point to Cabbage Beach, said the decision was made for safety reasons as it forges ahead with plans for a multi-million condominium project. The developer added that "the public still can readily access the beach at Beach Club Drive, off Paradise Island Drive, or consider Junkanoo Beach or Montagu Beach on Nassau.”

However, the decision to fence off beach access sparked fury, particularly among beach vendors, who said their property was removed from the beach without notice or permission. Vendors uprooted a portion of the fence and returned their items to the beach. “Clearing work on the privately owned, vacant tract has begun for a condominium-hotel development,” the developer said in a statement. “The Paradise Island project is expected to generate more than $250 million in investment and economic activity for the Bahamas, including new jobs in construction, tourism and related industries. Due to safety concerns during the work phase, the path that runs over the private tract to the beach will be closed.  “Unauthorized items that had been left on the private property have been carefully collected, and security will have them available for pickup through Friday.” Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar told The Nassau Guardian he was blindsided by the decision by Access Investments to block access to Cabbage Beach. He added that the vendors have every right to be upset. “I had no idea that this was going to happen until my phone started to blow up this morning about a fence being erected and access to Cabbage Beach being denied,” D’Aguilar said. “…But I understand what these vendors are complaining about. They have been blindsided. They haven’t been consulted. No one said anything to them. And I agree with their level of vexation right now. There certainly needs to be some kind of accommodation for their request.” The minister said he asked the developer to accommodate the vendors who operate from the beach.

However, the decision to fence off beach access sparked fury, particularly among beach vendors, who said their property was removed from the beach without notice or permission. Vendors uprooted a portion of the fence and returned their items to the beach.

“Clearing work on the privately owned, vacant tract has begun for a condominium-hotel development,” the developer said in a statement.

“The Paradise Island project is expected to generate more than $250 million in investment and economic activity for the Bahamas, including new jobs in construction, tourism and related industries. Due to safety concerns during the work phase, the path that runs over the private tract to the beach will be closed.

 “Unauthorized items that had been left on the private property have been carefully collected, and security will have them available for pickup through Friday.”

Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar told The Nassau Guardian he was blindsided by the decision by Access Investments to block access to Cabbage Beach. He added that the vendors have every right to be upset.

“I had no idea that this was going to happen until my phone started to blow up this morning about a fence being erected and access to Cabbage Beach being denied,” D’Aguilar said.

“…But I understand what these vendors are complaining about. They have been blindsided. They haven’t been consulted. No one said anything to them. And I agree with their level of vexation right now. There certainly needs to be some kind of accommodation for their request.”

The minister said he asked the developer to accommodate the vendors who operate from the beach.