The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

PUBLIC Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle said the administration has met with stakeholder groups that support bi-monthly pay for public servants –– but government officials have not identified the groups.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president Belinda Wilson, who strongly opposes bi-monthly payments, told The Tribune she met with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis yesterday and he presented a solution favourable to her union.

“I anticipate that Minister Pia Glover-Rolle will be advised by the Prime Minister soonest,” she said. “The decision is favourable to the members of the Bahamas Union of Teachers. I consider this matter resolved.”

Mrs Glover-Rolle has said the Ministry of Finance has been meeting with stakeholders about the proposed change to bi-monthly payments.

However, Mrs Wilson said neither she nor Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) president Kimsley Ferguson has met with the ministry.

She said a survey last year showed that 83 percent of BUT members want to keep their monthly salary payments.

In January, Mrs Glover-Rolle announced that the Ministry of Finance had launched a survey to gather public servants’ opinions on the proposed shift to bi-monthly pay. Initially, the plan was to implement the change in early 2025, but the timeline was extended for further consultations after union leaders raised concerns. 

When asked for an update on the survey, Mrs Glover-Rolle told The Tribune last week that the Ministry of Finance was training technical staff across the service. She said once that was completed, meetings with stakeholders would resume. 

“The final decision regarding semi-monthly payments will be made subsequent to stakeholder meetings,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said.

“The decision will emerge based on those final meetings, but all stakeholder meetings to date have been positive in favour of the semi-monthly payments.”

She declined to elaborate on the stakeholder meetings, referring The Tribune to the Ministry of Finance. However, Office of the Prime Minister Director of Communications Latrae Rahming did not respond with additional information before press time.