Nurses: “This Is a Slap in Our Face, Where Are Our Papers?”

Advertisement

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Outrage and frustration boiling over Monday morning as dozens of Bahamian nurses staged a protest, accusing the government of neglecting their appointments while rolling out the red carpet for foreign healthcare workers.

The demonstration unfolded just outside a ceremony welcoming dozens of Ghanaian nurses and doctors to the country.

Nurse Evernique Bain was one of several protestors Monday morning.

The graduate nurse intern says the system has left her feeling abandoned.

Tensions were flaring Monday morning, as members of The Bahamas Nurses Union gathered outside Breezes Resort to protest contractual and monetary issues.

Inside the resort health minister Dr. Michael Darville and other health officials were officially welcoming dozens of doctors and nurses from Ghana.

The foreign healthcare workers are expected to bolster manpower in the struggling public healthcare sector.

But outside, Bahamian nurses say it was nothing short of a slap in the face.

Bahamas Nurses Union President Muriel Lightbourn led the protestors.

Muriel Lightbourn – President of Bahamas Nurses Union

“ The government of the country would’ve taken them to purchase, to get their uniforms, the government would’ve housed these nurses. The government is also advancing three months salary to these nurses and these nurses standing in the back of me, they are still reading from 2023 .”

The graduate nurses say despite completing their studies and national exams, they continue to work without formal appointments, full salaries, or job security.

Now an inquiry was made about the hold-up.

Lightbourn says she was told by officials delays are due to incomplete documentation and vetting processes handled by the ministry of national security.

Muriel Lightbourn – President of The Bahamas Nurses Union

“ The 26 nurses from 2023, when they met with me, I asked them, I said, did y’all turn in everything that y’all needed? Some of them said they had some outstanding things, right? So I said to them, y’all get those things together, y’all bring them to me, those nurses did that.”

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Micheal Darville confirmed the Ghanian nurses went through strict vetting.

Dr. Micheal Darville – Minister of Health and Wellness

“ We have done vetting, we have been at this process for almost two years to bring the Ghanaian professionals in the country. They are contractual workers, whereas our nurses are not contractual workers. They have to go through the entire process of the public service commission. That is a completely different situation altogether. And, uh, we are advocating to expedite this process. “