By TANYA SMITH-CARTWRIGHT
tsmith-cartwright@tribunemedia.net
IMMIGRATION officers staged a sick-out yesterday, citing general poor treatment from executives and the lack of proper promotions in the ranks.
According to Deron Brooks, vice president northern region of Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union, the sick-out severely affected operations at the Immigration Department.
“What happened today was not orchestrated by the union,” Mr Brooks explained. “This is something that the officers did. For the most part the officers called in sick because they are mentally, physically and emotionally fatigued.
“From what we know the officers are frustrated because they are not being treated well. One of their major issues is that they see other law enforcement agencies having promotion exercises but the Immigration Department has been neglected. The last major exercise was in 2015 and before that it was in 2008 so basically those exercises were few and far apart by comparison.
“Shortly after 9am I received a call saying that there were two immigration officers at Lynden Pindling International Airport; two senior officers at Grand Bahama International Airport; two officers at West End; three at Freeport Harbour; three or four officers at headquarters in Freeport; hardly anyone at Hawkins Hill in Nassau; three officers in Bimini and across The Bahamas in general officers just did not show up for duty today.”
He explained the reason for the action.
“Because of the sick-out the government was unable to collect any government funds in the office today in Freeport because the account section was also affected,” he said. “As it stands now several of the latter squads in particular have some issues.
“They are long overdue for confirmations and promotions. For example, when you join the civil service, about 12 months after you are on the job you get an employment confirmation letter. In Customs and Immigration after your second or third year, the most, you transition into the next rank. That has not been happening for those latter squads.
“Officers from Abaco, Bimini and Grand Bahama that are in the 2014 squad have not even gotten confirmation letters yet. Similarly, officers from 2016 and 2017 have experienced some of the same things.
“The union has attributed this to bad leadership from the director of immigration. While he was not around when some of these squads joined the civil service, the union is of the view that he could have done more to bring resolution and closure to these issues.
“The officers are also very concerned because there are no proper detention facilities to house detainees that are COVID positive.
“The health and safety of customs and immigration (officers) is paramount. We lost an immigration officer in April of this year who was stationed at the South Bimini airport and we lost a customs officer in Grand Bahama to COVID-19.”
Mr Brooks could not say if the sick-out will continue today.
Comments
jujutreeclub 2 years, 7 months ago
How coincidental Mr. Brooks that squads from 2014 2016 and 2017 just realized that they have not been confirmed a few days before an election that is being held 7 and 5 years later. Where have they been all those years prior to this or they just realized that they ain't confirmed. Very interesting. The same thing they are doing now could have been done from 2025 - 2021. This shows poor leadership on the unions behalf. Stop throwing the blame on the director/former directors. You all as union leaders are lousy as hell. You are not fighting for us and blaming the directors.
Dawes 2 years, 7 months ago
LOl like clockwork the unions come out before an election with ever grievance they can think of. We are going through a massive economic challenge where many in the private sector have lost jobs (you know the people who pay for you to have a salary) and not one of the public sector were let go. Are you thankful, no, you only want more. Will be fun when that day comes (and its coming quickly) when they get told no money and half of you are gone. Of course our Governments are banking on that coming from the IMF so they can blame the foreigner.
jujutreeclub 2 years, 7 months ago
If I was the union rep I would have not comment on this because if only show how lousy and power/money hungry they are. 2014 - election 2017, agitate from then until 2017 Government changed, agitate from 2017 - now. From 2014 to a few weeks ago, mum was the word. Y'all ain't push the issue when the country could have afforded these adjustments, now sabotaging because election is being called. Bad negotiation practices. Before becoming a union leader, please attend some training in successful negotiation practices. Ideana Burrows, Keith Archer, Shane Gibson, Charlie Bethel, to name a few were real union negotiators. Take a page out of their book.
themessenger 2 years, 7 months ago
Take a page out of Shane Gibson's book? That's a great idea! When he first entered politics in the first Christie government his declared worth was $30,000, his declared worth ahead of his second term was 6 million. Yep, I could sure use a few shingles right about now.
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