The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) has launched an internal probe into separate allegations of sexual assault and harassment against two supervisors at the government agency, according to union leader John Pinder.

In one claim, a male supervisor sexually assaulted a male employee on work premises - allegedly forcing him into a vehicle and driving him to a secluded area of the compound.

In the second claim, a deputy manager is accused of sexual harassment and leveraging sex for career advancement with female employees. It was further alleged that the male supervisor was caught in a sexual act with another female employee.

The supervisors have been placed on administrative leave, according to Mr Pinder, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions of the Bahamas, who told The Tribune that the incidents have severely impacted staff morale.

He confirmed that up to 75 per cent of employees - most of whom were female - walked out last Wednesday in protest against alleged insulting remarks made against them.

When the alleged incidents took place was not clear. Calls placed to BAIC officials for comment were unreturned yesterday.

"I think the whole staff need some level of counselling," Mr Pinder said. "Male staffers need to know the appropriate way to address a female so that they don't feel sexually harassed and we need to build back confidence of female staffers, to let them know that you don't have to do sexual favours to advance your career.

"But in the situation with the male employee, it was clearly sexual assault. It was pre-meditated and sexual abuse. I expect that will be going before the courts."

Mr Pinder explained that the union responded to one complaint of sexual harassment last year, adding that the matter was resolved internally and the female employee was moved to another area.

"In that case some level of apologies were made and the lady was removed from the area," he said. "Remember, if I say anything that makes you uncomfortable, once I'm aware that you don't want me to then I'm supposed to decease from doing so. If I don't, that is a form of harassment.

"Somewhere along the line, we got to get the right person to talk to them about self esteem. If you're qualified you should be able to work and succeed based on your professional effort."

Mr Pinder said the alleged male victim of sexual assault recently filed a written complaint with the union, but that the incident had not yet been reported to the police.

"Sometimes a male feels damaging to come public to say he was assaulted sexually by another male," Mr Pinder said. "That messes with his manhood. It allegedly happened at the workplace; the guy forced him into a vehicle and drove him to an area in the workplace, a far area away from the main office, and he was apparently giving him some drinks and got him intoxicated."

Mr Pinder commended the swift response of new BAIC chairman, Dion Smith, adding that the union was satisfied with the corporation's response and investigation.

"We have to do what is necessary. They [staff] may need to have counselling so that they feel safe in the workplace," he said.

Mr Pinder said Mr Smith had called him on Thursday to ask to allow him to look into the matter before it goes any further. "It's safe to say he will not tolerate that kind of behaviour by how quickly he acted," Mr Pinder said.