Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson speaks during a press conference at Mr Ferguson’s office on July 24, 2024. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunmedia.net
IN excluding unions from talks about the future of Bahamas Power & Light, the Davis administration is violating a pre-election memorandum of understanding Prime Minister Philip Davis signed, according to Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson.
In August 2021, Mr Davis, as leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, signed an MOU with the National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trade Union Congress (CBTUC).
The document said that “where possible in statute and in regulations,” formal consultations would occur with unions on matters of public policy before approval processes and concessions are given to foreign investors.
Mr Wilson argued yesterday that the Davis administration’s handling of BPL goes against this.
The government is entering a 25-year agreement with Pike Corporation through its Bahamian management company, Island Grid Solutions, to upgrade and manage BPL’s transmission and distribution network. The government will own 40 per cent of the shares in a special purpose vehicle, Bahamas Grid Company, and Island Grid Solutions will own 60 per cent.
Mr Wilson said he was present when Mr Davis signed the MOU with unions.
“I was excited because what he was saying they were going to do for labour, in contravention to the reigning administration that time, was exciting,” he said.
It is possible the MOU signing was just a PR stunt, he said, adding that staff is fearful that their jobs are in jeopardy despite the administration’s repeated assertions to the contrary.
“There’s a saying ‘mouth can say anything’, prove the doubters wrong and present the black and white facts,” he said.
He said he visited Mrs Coleby-Davis a few weeks ago with questions about how the BPL deal will affect staff. He said after waiting for an hour, he encountered the minister, but she refused to give him the requested details.
“She said no, emphatically no,” he said. “I felt insulted, I felt hurt, I felt broken. But I kept a smile on my face. I was angry. I feel that was not the way the minister should have spoken to me as a union president.”
Obie Ferguson, president of the Trade Union Congress, said he is also frustrated by the government’s level of adherence to the MOU. He questioned the significance of signing it, especially as some unions criticised his organisation for doing so.
The Ministry of Energy and Transport said that Island Grid representatives are in the country, fulfilling their commitment to help BPL with necessary distribution work.
The ministry said it has met with BPL’s two unions to inform them of upcoming changes. BPL’s plans “include an ironclad commitment to protect the job security of BPL union workers,” the ministry said, adding that the industrial agreements will be honoured.
Comments
Sickened 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Coleby-Davis in the news again. Jesus take the wheel. What's the opposite of having the Midas Touch? Well, this women is that!
We could name it the Davis Touch as it applies to both Jobeth and Brave.
bahamianson 1 month, 2 weeks ago
You all are always looking for a carrot and the opposition of the day always has one conveniently dangling. Are you plan stupid or what? This is what politics is all about. Oppositions want the 4000 votes, get in and disappear. It is what it is. Nothing to see here.
sheeprunner12 1 month, 2 weeks ago
This fool (like many others) got in bed with the New Day crew ......... looking for shiny new objects.
Well, he found his shiny new object ............... PIKE
M0J0 1 month, 2 weeks ago
lol you mean he got pike lmao.
SP 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Bahamas Electrical Workers Union president Kyle Wilson isn't smiling now, and shouldn't have been smiling up with Mrs. Coleby-Davis that's why these people have no respect for him.
Everybody with sense know better than to trust politicians. Mr. Wilson finally learned first hand that a promise is comfort to a fool
moncurcool 1 month, 1 week ago
These dudes jokey. They really believed that they signed with Davis held any with for government? Davis was in opposition and would says and do anything to get their votes. In the words of Malcolm X, you been had, bamboozled, hoodwinked, and un amuck.
That MOU iis not even worth sh*t to government.
Socrates 1 month, 1 week ago
what happened to that age old tradition where if you don't like how things are you pack up and leave? it never ceases to amaze me how people get hired and all of a sudden they think they have the right to tell you what to do... did they change the definition of employer and employee?
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