Union Alliance Hand Delivers Letter To Prime Minister’s Office

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – For the second consecutive day, members of the Bahamas National Alliance of Trade Union Congress (BNATUC) took to the streets to protest grievances and delayed salary payments, marching from Goodman’s Bay to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Thursday.

BNATUC President Belinda Wilson described the second day of demonstrations as “a lot more peaceful,” as union affiliates delivered a formal letter to the Prime Minister, outlining their concerns.

“The most important thing here is that we’re saying to the Prime Minister and his team that they left the table, so they must come back to the table. We are open for discussion, and we await a date, time, and venue,” Wilson told reporters.

Protesters are demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Philip Davis, which has not yet taken place. At the same time, Davis was engaged in discussions with leaders from the Trade Union Congress, the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union, and the Bahamas Educators Counselors and Allied Workers Union.

Wilson, however, appeared unfazed by the Prime Minister’s scheduling.

“If the Prime Minister is of the view that he needs to meet with the other two unions or congresses and ignore the BNATUC, that’s his right,” Wilson said. “But I have a right and an obligation to do what I’m doing this morning.”

The Ministry of Education confirmed that all public schools remained open during the protest, though some teachers did call in absent. Education Director Dominique MacCartney Russell told The Nassau Guardian that just over 30 percent of teachers were out on Wednesday.

Wilson disputed those figures, arguing that the impact was greater.

“I believe the numbers the Director of Education gave must have been very early because they were incorrect. Much, much more impact was done,” Wilson said. “It’s like when your parent has to discipline you, it hurts them more. It hurts the teachers to have to leave the little darlings that we love.”

The protest concluded at OPM, where Wilson delivered the signed letter, officially received by OPM Communications Director Latrae Rahming.

The union continues to push for direct engagement with the Prime Minister to address delayed payments and other outstanding issues affecting public servants.