Superintendent of Her Majesty's Prisons Dr. Elliston Rahming yesterday announced the long-awaited promotions of 112 prison officers.
Among the officers promoted, three were elevated from principal officer to chief officer; 12 from sergeant to principal officer; 61 from corporal to sergeant and 36 from general duty officer to corporal.
On the campaign trail, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) have accused the Free National Movement (FNM) government of using promotion exercises for officers in the armed forces to secure additional votes in the build up to the May 7 general election.
However, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has similarly criticized PLP Leader Perry Christie for promoting police officers during the lead-up to the last general election, for what he claimed were political reasons.
In January, 248 officers and marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) were approved for advancement by National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest, in the single largest promotion exercise in the history of the RBDF.
Just two months later, a total of 312 junior officers and senior policemen of the Royal Bahamas Police Force were moved up the force's ranks.
Last week Thursday during the DNA's rally for change in Golden Gates, DNA Leader Branville McCartney predicted that members of the police and defence forces will vote for the DNA today in the advanced poll, as they are in his opinion, 'fed-up' with the Ingraham-led government.
"The Bahamas Prison Officers Association (BPOA) has received assistance by the National Congress of Trade Unions in The Bahamas to amicably get the prison officers' concerns addressed [and] the government turned a blind eye to their concerns, such as insufficient drinking water," McCartney told supporters.
At the FNM's mass rally on Tuesday night on Clifford Park, Ingraham encouraged police and defence force officers to consider their futures with the government that has committed to more resources, salary increases, uniform allowances and promotion exercises.
Around 7,800 armed forces, public servants and special voters will vote today in the advanced poll.
Prison officers' promotions were one of the key issues the BPOA agitated for in recent weeks, among many other outstanding concerns.
According to BPOA President Gregory Archer, the officers who were promoted were pleased and excited, although they felt the promotion exercise was overdue.
However, Archer said the BPA's plight remains the same in regards to other outstanding issues.
A special ceremony will he held today at Her Majesty's Prisons to officially recognize the promoted officers.
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