The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers Acting President Zane Lightbourne yesterday accused suspended BUT President Belinda Wilson of trying to “barge” her way back into the presidency before receiving confirmation from the union’s annual general meeting.

Mr Lightbourne, in an interview with The Tribune, said Mrs Wilson’s recent “stunt” is indicative of her “trying to get back in the chair before she gets to the AGM”.

He said the union would be “happy” to have Mrs Wilson back to work, as her reinstatement would allow her to “deal with the matters that are of grave concern to the union that still have to be answered to.”

Mr Lightbourne’s comments were in response to claims made by Mrs Wilson over the weekend that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) has closed its investigation into alleged violations of union procedures.

Mrs Wilson was suspended indefinitely with half pay last year pending that investigation. Mrs Wilson, along with another individual, were both originally suspended amid allegations that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account was wrongfully spent.

In a statement released on the weekend, however, Mrs Wilson claimed the RBPF’s investigation into the matter has been “conducted and completed” and has “determined that there will be no charges levied against anyone and the case is now closed.”

Mrs Wilson also claimed that the two auditing firms hired by the union, HLB Galanis & Co and Baker Tilly Gomez, which conducted three forensic audits covering the period 2008-2015, found that no money was missing, stolen, or spent for personal reasons, but instead spent “for and on behalf of the BUT and all monies were accessed in accordance with the union’s procedure.”

Mrs Wilson ended the statement by saying she looks “forward to returning to work to continue to serve the teachers throughout the Bahamas from Grand Bahama to Inagua.”

When contacted yesterday, Mr Lightbourne said he had not yet received anything in print from the RBPF regarding the investigation; however, a source previously told The Tribune that the police had completed the investigation and that the file is now before the Office of the Attorney General.

Mr Lightbourne also said the union has not been given anything in black and white from Baker Tilly Gomez. However, a source had previously told The Tribune that the forensic audit report is also “basically” completed and is likely to be presented at this weekend’s AGM.

Mr Lightbourne said it is “curious that Mrs Wilson at this time would try such a stunt when she knows that the AGM is this week.”

“If the AGM, which suspended Mrs Wilson, resumes on Saturday, then what is the rush in trying to push yourself back to work claiming that you have something that nobody else is aware of?” he said.

“The way Mrs Wilson is doing things is clearly ultra vires to any sensible organisation, and we’re not going to allow her to do that.

“...You don’t just barge in or make the claims yourself. You have to have a letter or some communication stating that this is the position of the organisation, or your position as it pertains to whether it’s a suspension or any other act.”

Regarding the validity of Mrs Wilson’s claims in reference to the police investigation, Mr Lightbourne said the only communication he has received pertaining to that matter was a letter by Mrs Wilson’s lawyers addressed to Labour Director Robert Farquharson on the conclusion of the investigation.

“It’s just so presumptuous to think that you’ll return to work just by saying ‘I’m returning to work’,” Mr Lightbourne added.

“So the organisation will have to tell her if she will be placed back in her position, and she’ll have an opportunity this weekend to do that if she is so anxious.”

In 2014, Mrs Wilson and Ms Knowles were suspended.

Mrs Wilson had her suspicion overturned by a three-member appeals committee in January 2015, which said it found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the president as was alleged. In March of that year, however, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Knowles were again served with another suspension for “blatant violations” of the union’s constitution.