After a long wait, 16 court reporters have finally been promoted, Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) President John Pinder confirmed yesterday. The promotion exercises come more than 10 years after the last one for the reporters, Pinder said. However, he said two court reporters were not elevated.

Pinder said authorities still have not confirmed a director after the government terminated the contract of Ludell Theophilus in December 2013. Chief Court Reporter Enith Darling served as acting director after Theophilus, who served as a consultant since 1999.

Judith Clare, a senior reporter, is now acting director. Pinder said the union is working on a new career path for the reporters. Privately contracted court reporters were promoted last year.

In a report completed in April 2015, British consultant Ben Yallop said the court reporters "presently feel undervalued", and although the unit is performing well, this was likely affecting performance. Yallop also called for an end to the "divisive system" of contracted and permanent staff "so that all long-term personnel are made permanent and are able to receive the appropriate benefits to which they should be entitled".

Yallop suggested an overhaul of the performance appraisal system to give the director "sufficient powers to address poor performance, including dismissal". Yallop also recommended that the management posts within the unit be advertised and filled permanently.

By Artesia Davis. NG Reporter

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