BPSU President: “If She Was Given an Extra Portfolio, the Other One Should Go to Someone Else”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The returning Davis administration has been formed, and cabinet ministers have taken up their posts, where among them, is Pia Glover-Rolle, who returns as Labour and Public Service Minister, but with a new responsibility of the National Insurance Board added.

While Bahamas Public Services Union President, Kimsley Ferguson, says he looks forward to continuing working with the minister, he also stands by his position, saying a labour minister can’t fight for workers effectively and balance it all.

Kimsley Ferguson – President, BPSU

“The conflict of being the employer, as well as being the one to adjudicate matters when they would spill over into an appeal so to speak, and so I am very concerned. Aqnd I believe that if the honorable minister would’ve been given an additional portfolio, then that particular one should’ve been given to someone else, so that there can be some degree of fitness and justice regarding persons who are pending the outcome of trade disputes and conciliation matters.”

However, it’s not just the minister’s portfolio the union chief is keeping a close eye on.

He’s also keeping a close eye on the Speech from the Throne on Wednesday, where Governor General Her Excellency Cynthia Pratt outlined government’s plans for workers, including the Employment Bill 2026, which is aimed at strengthening workplace standards, while expanding maternity protections among other new safeguards.

While the legislation is meant to benefit workers, Ferguson says this:

Kimsley Ferguson – President, BPSU

“I wanna remind the Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle and the government as well that we are the representative of the workers of this country, and anything that would amend all the terms and conditions of employment for the workers that we do represent, we ought to be included…”

“We hadn’t received a response to that. I know that when we met with the prime minister, there was some degree of hold on the progress of the proposed Pension Bill. While we do believe that a contributor pension plan is really in the best interest of the workers because they get to determine how much money they collect. And so again, dalso it would relieve to some extent the burden of the public place, and having to provide that.”