The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A DAY after a three-member appeals panel overturned the suspension of Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson she returned to the union’s headquarters to find a locksmith changing the locks on the building.

While Mrs Wilson was able to gain access to the BUT facility on Bethel Avenue because a member was leaving the building, she reportedly could not enter her office because the locks had already been changed.

This comes a day after BUT vice-president Zane Lightbourne and Secretary General John Musgrove told The Tribune they were rejecting the appeals committee’s ruling.

On Monday, there was a heated exchange outside the union with Mrs Wilson and both Mr Lightbourne and Mr Musgrove over her reinstatement.

Last month, Mrs Wilson and treasurer Lorraine Knowles were suspended for six and four months respectively for alleged infractions.

This conflict came on the heels of the executive committee’s concern that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account were wrongfully spent.

Mrs Wilson has maintained that the executive council is going against the union’s constitution and claimed the appeals committee’s decision could only be overturned at the union’s Annual General Meeting. The AGM is expected in June this year.

Following nearly three weeks of deliberations, the appeals committee said in documents obtained by The Tribune that they did not suspect Mrs Wilson of any wrongdoing.

“It is clear from the evidence produced before the appeals committee, that in the regular operation of the union, funds from both the pension and fixed deposit accounts were utilised with the knowledge or consent of the executive committee and/or the AGM,” the appeals panel said in a ruling delivered on Monday.

“Evidence has been produced to show that transfers from the fixed deposit were approved by the AGM or executive committee as letters were needed to break the fixed deposit.

“Evidence further shows that most of the money transferred was for the set-up of the Teachers Mart and the new building in Grand Bahama. All of the letters were signed by at least three executive officers,” the appeals committee said.