Pia Glover-Rolle speaks at the Progressive Liberal Party's campaign launch "Blueprint for Progress" at the University of The Bahamas on April 8, 2026. Photo: Shawn Hanna
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
QUESTIONS over whether a senior public officer breached political neutrality rules have been pushed to the Office of the Prime Minister, with Labour and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle saying her ministry does not handle matters involving permanent secretaries.
“I think the matter was with a permanent secretary, and permanent secretaries report directly to the Prime Minister,” she said yesterday at the Progressive Liberal Party weekly campaign update press conference.
“The Office of the Prime Minister will, in that regard, handle any communications regarding that matter. But yes, my ministry has put out on several occasions, general orders that speak to the participation outwardly, front line public servants in political life or on the political front line. So the matter of that level of public servant is actually handled through the office of the Prime Minister, and I would direct any questions in that regard there.”
Mr Seymour, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was photographed wearing Progressive Liberal Party paraphernalia on Nomination Day at a political event on Cat Island linked to Prime Minister Philip Davis’s nomination, raising questions about whether he breached General Orders requiring public officers to maintain political impartiality and avoid overt participation in frontline political activity.
Scrutiny has intensified because Mr Seymour signed a 2024 letter warning a Foreign Affairs officer against engaging in political activities.
Communications Director Latre Rahming, who was present at the press conference, did not provide further comment.
Secretary to the Cabinet Nicole Campbell declined to address the matter directly, saying: “The Public Service has rules. It has regulations, and those procedures and rules are normally carried out. But in this instance, I don’t have any comments.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has declined to comment when asked about the issue.
Former Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle took a critical stance, describing Mr Seymour’s actions as a clear breach of General Orders and warning that failure to act could undermine public confidence in the neutrality and integrity of the public service.
Mr Seymour, a retiree who was brought back into the public service, earns a total annual package of $221,316, including a base salary of $104,750, a pension of $49,766, a $43,200 rent allowance, a $20,000 responsibility allowance and a $3,600 distribution allowance.
Comments
moncurcool 18 hours, 56 minutes ago
Any taking Bahamians for fools continues. How the OPM will deal with it when the man was campaigning for the PM?
Sickened 18 hours, 51 minutes ago
Lone jokes! The PLP are a joke. Rules be damned. Satan runs tings in that party.
Dawes 16 hours, 15 minutes ago
Why is there a probe?. He was in PLP colors. Either this is OK or it is not. By doing this it appears to be an attempt to sweep it under the rug as it is not allowed.
birdiestrachan 14 hours, 29 minutes ago
The plp has no colours. Stop talking nonsense.
birdiestrachan 14 hours, 27 minutes ago
If the shirts have printed.on them Fnm or.Plp that is.a difference other wise it is just nonsense
licks2 12 hours, 43 minutes ago
Here we go again. . .political misogyny! The PM will go through this charade of "seeing: if General Orders prohibits the PS from wearing a political shirt!! There is one difficulty in this case! That PS is not a public servant. . .he is a retired Public Servant. . .a free-agent with no privileges or benefits beyond his contract compared to that of a PS that is currently a Public Servant!! He acts in the capacity as a PS. . .but is not a bonified Public Servant!! His term of employment has parameters of his contract!! He serves at the pleasure of the Cabinet. . .not the GG. He has no rights to parameters of employment of Bonified Public Servants!! In other words, his current work with government does in no wise obligate government to pay him a pension, adjust his salary or is entitled to other benefits of the typical Public Servant! When his contract is over. . .he walks with his hand in pocket. . .government has no obligations to him. . .otherwise than that contained within his contract!!
That is the only problem with this case. . .
bahamianson 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
Wasnt the lady whom got the exuma moorings contract working in the OPM and they didnt know about it? This is why many will not turn out to vote. Where is the confidence in knowing that people will be penalized and go to jail if wrong doing is found? No one i sheld accountable. Only the politically connected wins in this bahamas.why should I vote for the connected to always win on my back? I have to cross every T and dot every i , and others just laugh as they are walking through life smoothly.
Sign in to comment
OpenID