The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Public Services Union President, John Pinder, yesterday confirmed that an internal investigation at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation into separate allegations of sexual assault and harassment against two supervisors has resulted in the relocation of one supervisor and a police investigation into allegations made against the other.

In the first claim, a male employee filed a written complaint with the union in which it was alleged he was forced into a vehicle, driven to a secluded area of the compound and sexually assaulted by a male supervisor on the work site.

Mr Pinder said the matter has been referred to the police and is being investigated; however so far no charges have been filed against the supervisor.

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

According to the union leader the supervisor has been subsequently transferred to another area.

Mr Pinder told The Tribune last month that the incidents have severely affected staff morale. He confirmed that up to 75 per cent of the employees, most of whom are women, walked off work to protest insulting remarks made to them.

BAIC is a government agency mandated to stimulate and encourage the creation, expansion and promotion of small and medium-sized Bahamian businesses and to assist those businesses in developing and enhancing profitable opportunities for domestic and international trade.

Up to last night, the BAIC chairman, Dion Smith, could not be reached for comment.