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A L L T H E N E W S Y O U N E E D T O R E A D I N T H E M O R N I N G

VOL. 31 - NO. 137 75 CENTSTUESDAY - AUGUST 27TH, 2019

Doctors Forcedto End Strike

nder Section 76of the IndustrialRelations Act,striking doctors

are compelled to return towork as Minister ofLabour Dion Foulkesannounced yesterday thathe has referred theBahamas DoctorsUnion’s (BDU) dispute tothe Industrial Tribunal. Minister Foulkes said,

“Pursuant to Section 76of the Industrial Relations

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

U

g See page 3...4 Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes

PHA: ‘Extra DemandsMade Strike Illegal’

PLP RemembeRs siR Lynden PindLing

4 Former Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling and members of the Progressive Liberal Party laid a wreath at the mausoleum of former Prime MinisterSir Lynden Pindling, commemorating his death 19 years ago. (Photo/Earyel Bowleg)

It’s been 19 years sincethe death of former PrimeMinister Sir LyndenPindling and yesterdaymembers the ProgressiveLiberal Party (PLP),along with Pindling’swife Dame Margueritecommemorated his death.“All I’m asking of you

is don’t forget him. Lookaround this Bahamas, youcan’t help but to remem-ber. No matter where yougo,” Dame Margueritesaid during the ceremonyat Pindling’s mausoleumat St. Agnes Cemetery.“We just want to give

thanks for his work, his

BY EARYEL BOWLEG Journal Staff Writer

g See page 3...

‘Highest Level of Union Unrest’Progressive Liberal Party(PLP) Deputy LeaderChester Cooper called therecent junior doctors’strike and protest by theBahamas Public ServicesUnion (BPSU) “the high-

est level of union unrestand deterioration of unionrelation” with the govern-ment.After a ceremony on

Monday commemoratingformer Prime Minister SirLynden Pindling’s death

BY EARYEL BOWLEG Journal Staff Writer

g See page 4... 4 Chester Cooper

While the PublicHospitals Authority(PHA) wants junior doc-tors to return to work, itbelieves their extrademands made the strikeillegal. Responding a press

release issued by theBahamas Doctors Union(BDU) yesterday, thePHA explained its nego-tiations with the unionand acknowledged thatthe government agreed tosettle the issue over holi-day pay.“The PHA notes that

even after meeting withthe prime minister, whereit was agreed that theentire $4.98 millionowed would be paid over

two installments inSeptember andDecember of 2019, aneven better offer thanwhat the BDU originallyrequested, the BDU sawfit not to accept this gen-erous offer and end theirstrike, but instead usedthe opportunity to makeeven further demands ofthe PHA, the Departmentof Public Health, theMinistry of Health andby extension, theBahamian people;demands that have nobearing to its strike cer-tificate and as a result, inthe opinion of the PHA,turned a legal strike intoan illegal one,” the PHAsaid in a statement. “The BDU has asked

BY DEANDRE WILLIAMSONJournal Staff Writer

g See page 4...

PHA Calls BDU‘Disingenuous’

The Public HospitalsAuthority called theBahamas Doctors Union(BDU) “disingenuous”after it claimed thatMinister of Health Dr.Duane Sands “insists” thatboth parties sign an agree-ment concerning thededuction of monies owedto doctors.Yesterday, in a response

to the BDU, the PHA said,“After both parties agreedthat the amount due to thejunior doctors was in fact$4.98 million, the PHAproposed that the amountsbe paid over six semi-annual installments. TheBDU countered with a

BY LEAH COOPERJournal Staff Writer

g See page 3...

4 BDU PresidentMelisande Bassett

Section A REGULAR_Section A Tues 8/26/2019 11:45 PM

A2 NationalNEWSThe Bahama Journal

Tuesday - August 27th, 2019

Disney’s Lighthouse Point PlanCelebrates Bahamian Culture

Disney Cruise Line IslandDevelopment unveiled itsplans for what the experi-ence at the $400 millioncruise port and entertain-ment facility atLighthouse Point in SouthEleuthera will be like.The unveiling which

came at Disney’s D23expo in California onSunday, according toDisney, will celebrate theculture and spirit of TheBahamas. At the unveiling,

Disney Parks, Experienceand Products ChairmanBob Chapek and WaltDisney Imaginer JoeRohde shared the newdetails about the plan. Rhodes said, “The

Bahamas offers a fasci-nating multi-cultural tra-ditions of food, music,dance and storytelling.” He added, “Eleuthera

in particular is home tomany artists and we willbe working with painters,sculptors, writers, story-tellers, musicians,weavers and artists ofevery kind, much like wedid with Aulani in

Hawaii, to create aunique experience that isrooted in Bahamian cul-ture and imbued withDisney magic.” Minister of Tourism

Dionisio D’Aguilar wason hand for the unveilingand said, “The Bahamasgovernment negotiated amodel agreement withDisney- preserving thenatural environment ofLighthouse Point and theculture of The Bahamaswhile growing economicopportunities forBahamians.” “Disney has done a

tremendous job of follow-ing through on the commit-ments it made by taking athoughtful and comprehen-sive approach to its envi-ronmental impact assess-ment, engaging directlywith the people of SouthEleuthera and creativecommunities and maintain-ing an open dialogue withcivic and business leadersin order to maximize futureopportunities forBahamians,” he added.Disney completed its

purchase of the privatelyowned property earlier thisyear and signed the headsof agreement with the gov-

ernment back in March.Disney has committed

to developing less than 20percent of the property,employ sustainable build-ing practices, including anopen trestle pier, establish

environmental monitoringprograms during construc-tion and operation anddonate more than 190acres of privately ownedland to the government,among other commit-

ments.Work on the project will

only begin after anEnvironmental ImpactAssessment andE n v i r o n m e n t a lManagement Plan are

reviewed and accepted bythe government and publicconsultation has occurred. Construction could

begin in 2020 with com-pletion in late 2022 or2023.

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

4 Artist Rendering of Disney’s Lighthouse Point Developement

4 Aerial View of Disney’s planned Lighthouse Point Developement

PM Visits BTVI: Promises FamilyIsland Students $500 for Housing Prime Minister Dr. HubertMinnis and other seniorgovernment officialstoured the BahamasTechnical and VocationalInstitute (BTVI) yester-day getting a firsthandlook at classrooms at theOld Trail Road campus.Some $2.6 million

have been budgetedtowards free tuition forstudents at BTVI andaccording to BTVIPresident Dr. RobertRobinson, registration atthe Nassau campus is upsome 26 percent in the lasttwo years and 100 percentin Grand Bahama.Addressing students in

attendance, Dr. Minnistold students that he wantsthem to succeed. “The only thing I ask of

you is that you attend yourcourses, you study hardand you succeed that’s allI want,” he said. “I want to see you all

succeed so that when Iand my colleague minister

and others depart fromthis world, we will at leastbe able to rest in peaceknowing that we left TheBahamas in great hands.” Family Island students

attending the Universityof The Bahamas willreceive an allowance of$500 for their livingaccommodations.Dr. Minnis informed

students that BTVI stu-dents will receive thesame benefit. “I have spoken with the

financial secretary and Iwould have asked thepresident to provide uswith the number of stu-dents attending BTVIfrom the Family Islandsso that they too canreceive the same benefitsas those at the Universityof The Bahamas,” Dr.Minnis explained. “Now let me get some-

thing straight to you, the$500 is not given to you toput in your pocket. The$500 as you are encour-aged to live in familyhomes and rental facili-ties, the $500 is given to

the landlord.” BTVI President Dr.

Robert Robertson said thegrant to Family Island stu-dents will make a signifi-cant difference to studentsin the future.“It will make an impact

in the future, but I thinkfamilies and childrenmake decisions earlierand so they are alreadyhere because they alreadymade the decision basedon the fact that they werenot eligible at BTVI,” Dr.Robertson said.“So I think next year it

will make a big differ-ence. A lot of people thinkabout coming, but thenthe housing cost added toeverything else in a biggercity is just too much.“I talked to some par-

ents last week about it andlike I said, they make theirdecisions earlier, but thenext year I think they willbe here in numbers.” According to BTVI,

out of the 2,500 studentsthis term some 70 of themare Family Island stu-dents.

BY BERTHONY MCDERMOTTJournal Staff Writer

4 Prime Minister Minnis addressed students on the first day of classes Monday, August 26,2019 at Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road. Also shown are BTVI'sPresident, Dr. Robert W. Robertson and Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of

Education. (BIS Photos/Yontalay Bowe)


A3The Bahama Journal

Tuesday - August 27th, 2019NationalNEWS

Doctors Forced

PLP RemembeRs siR Lynden

Act, I have considered thatthe strike action taken as aresult of the strike certifi-cate issued on the 19thDecember, 2018 relative toa trade dispute filed on the25th September, 2018 con-cerning the issue of theemployer’s failure to payemployees’ holiday pay in

accordance with theIndustrial Agreement andthe Employment Act, hasaffected and threatened thepublic interest.”In accordance with the

Employment Act, Mr.Foulkes added that all par-ties have been notified inwriting.The referral of the dis-

pute to the Industrial

Tribunal followed the can-celation of a meeting at theDepartment of Labourgeared towards bringing anend to the matter. Director of Labour John

Pinder said the meetingwas called off by BDUPresident Dr. MelisandeBassett.“I had a conversation

with the president of the

doctors union and sheindicated that her attor-ney had advised her thatthere is some clause inthe proposal coming fromthe prime minister thatwe were supposed to dis-cuss this morning, as itrelates to the holiday pay,if she signs off on that itwill become null andvoid,” Mr. Pinder said.

“So, she didn’t wish tocontinue the meeting.”As the junior doctors’

strike continued into sixthday on Monday, the BDUhas increased itsdemands. Initially, outstanding

holiday pay was at thecrux of their grievances,but now the new demandsrange from increased

health insurance to arequest for Crown land.However, Mr. Pinder

told The Bahama Journalthat he is not aware ofthose requests.He said, “I didn’t see

the proposal from theprime minister to them. Iwas supposed to reviewthat this morning beforethe meeting got started.”

witness, the passion heshowed for his people.He’s still showing itthrough his people. I thinkthat’s why we’re all heretoday – we’re feeling hispresence.” Joining the ceremony

were PLP Chairman FredMitchell and DeputyLeader Chester Cooper

and Bishop Arnold Josey. “You should never ever

forget. I pray that theBahamas never ever for-get, no matter who theyoung people come upbehind. Those of youdon’t know that struggle.You don’t know thatstory,” Josey said.Cooper took time to

thank Dame Margueritefor her service to thecountry.

“Let me say how grate-ful the nation is for youhaving served as governorgeneral with class anddistinction and the nationis forever grateful too.The Progressive LiberalParty is grateful to youand we thank you entire-ly,” Cooper said.“It is important for us

to always celebrate thelife and time of SirLynden. He’s a man who

has sacrificed his life andgiven of himself all thathe had at a very youngage, made sacrifices ofhimself, his family, hismoney and all that hecould give to liberate theBahamian people.” Mitchell announced

PLP’s plan to commemo-rate Sir Lynden if the PLPis elected as governmentin the next general elec-tion.

“We are committed todeclaring Sir Lynden thefather of the nation. Weare committed to a triplesized statue on the hilloverlooking the harbourof the Botanical Gardens.To that the people willknow this is the man whocreated, who championedthe modernCommonwealth of TheBahamas and who stoodup for the people of

African descent,”Mitchell said. While alive, Sir

Lynden served as primeminister of the Bahamasfor nearly 26 years. Heled the country to inde-pendence from GreatBritain and served as amember of the House ofAssembly for 41 consecu-tive years. Today, he would have

been 89 years old.

gg Continued from / PAGE 1...

PHA Calls BDU ‘Disingenuous’ request for a repaymentperiod of four semi-annualinstallments. “The PHA advised the

BDU that its financial posi-tion would not allow forthe repayment to be short-ened to four installmentsbut in the spirit of compro-mise, agreed to meet theBDU half-way by propos-ing a repayment over fiveinstallments. This offerwas extended to the BDUin June of 2019 but to-date,the BDU has refused toaccept the compromise andinstead made the decisionto strike on August 21st,

2019.“The PHA finds it total-

ly disingenuous of theBDU to give the Bahamianpublic the perception thatthe Minister of Health isnow attempting to “insist”that they sign an agreementthat deducts an amount thatis due them.”On Monday, BDU

announced that it’s contin-uing to exercise its legalright to utilize industrialaction against the PublicHospitals Authority (PHA)and the Department ofPublic Health. In a release, the union

reiterated that it has taken10 years of failed negotia-

tions to reach this point. The BDU added that it

demonstrated restraint andheld off industrial actionfor eight months attempt-ing to conclude this matteramicably, considering itsimpact on the public. According to the

release, in the union’sefforts toward conciliationit has conceded six years ofholiday pay, which extendsback to 2010. This accounts for money

owed in excess of $10 mil-lion. The BDU added that it

realized the financial bur-den this posed on the pub-lic’s purse and made

numerous concessions. These include reducing

the money payout to lessthan half, waiving all inter-est to the money owed andgiving the governmentoptions for non-monetaryalternatives like the con-struction of a parkinggarage, improved insur-ance or one-time taxwaivers. The BDU explained that

the government hasacknowledged that the jun-ior doctors are owed forworking public holidaysover the past ten years andmade provisions for thefunds to be paid. However, the union

claimed that it has not beenable to sign an agreementwith Minister of Health Dr.Duane Sands because heinsists that he is entitled tomake deductions fromthose funds.The union added that it

has been advised by itslegal advisor that it wouldbe foolish to agree to such adeduction as this would becontrary to what is constitu-tionally allowed. Additionally, the BDU saidcurrent government provi-sions will not bring what isowed current and no agree-ment has been made as tohow holiday pay will beaddressed in the future.

The release explainedthat the union hasexpressed to Dr. Sands onnumerous occasions thatthe members of the BDUare ready to get back towork, but can only do sowhen there is a legal bind-ing and fair document tosign, a timeline to resolve tothe other outstanding issuesand all of the money agreedto by Prime Minister Dr.Huber Minnis is paid to thejunior doctors. The BDU added that the

inconvenience and frustra-tion that the public is expe-riencing lies “square at thefeet of the minister ofhealth”.




A4 The Bahama Journal

Tuesday - August 27th, 2019 NationalNEWS

BREEF Releases “A Quick Guide toFisheries Regulations of The Bahamas”

The Bahamas ReefEnvironment EducationalFoundation (BREEF) isthrilled to begin the offi-cial distribution of thepocket brochures, “AQuick Guide to FisheriesRegulations of TheBahamas.” The brochurewas made possible withthe assistance of FamilyIsland Research andEducation, theDepartment of MarineResources and the RoyalBahamas Defence Force.The brochure is devel-oped by BREEF to pro-vide fishers with a handypocket reference toProtected SpeciesRegulations, ApprovedFishing Methods andFishing PermitRequirements. Accepting the

brochures on behalf of theDepartment of MarineResources, ActingDirector of Fisheries, Mr.Edison Deleveaux said,“The Department ofMarine Resources isappreciative of the assis-tance provided by theNGO community, and inparticular those providedby the Bahamas ReefEnvironment EducationalFoundation (BREEF).BREEF’s recent produc-tion of the brochure, “AQuick Guide to theFisheries Regulations ofThe Bahamas”, assistsgreatly in the provision ofinformation to stakehold-ers with the aim of edu-cating persons to fishresponsibly. The ulti-mate goal is food security.I extend my thanks to

BREEF for this initia-tive.”In his remarks at the

Coral Harbour RoyalBahamas Defence ForceBase, Commodore TellisBethel said, “The RoyalBahamas Defence Forcecongratulates BREEF forits publication of theQuick Guide to FisheriesRegulations of TheBahamas Brochure. Thisbooklet provides a practi-cal tool for understandingBahamian fisheries laws,and therefore makes theDefence Force’s role insafeguarding our fisheriesresources a much easierone. Knowledge of theselaws is also important forour growing population,as well as visitors to ourshores. We in the DefenceForce will certainly make

use of this booklet andwill encourage others todo the same.”Casuarina McKinney-

Lambert, BREEF’sExecutive Director stat-ed, “A Quick Guide toFisheries Regulations ofThe Bahamas is first andforemost an educationaltool designed to promoteresponsible and sustain-able harvesting of ourfishery resources. It is anintegral part of BREEF’songoing efforts to pro-vide as many fishers aspossible with access tosome very importantBahamian FisheriesR e g u l a t i o n s .Additionally, fishers canalso obtain similar infor-mation by downloadingthe Fish Rules App whichBREEF helped to devel-

op.” BREEF is confident

that “A Quick Guide toFisheries Regulations ofThe Bahamas” pocketbrochure will continue tobe a valuable referencetool for promotingresponsible fishing prac-tices and adherence tofisheries regulations byBahamian and visitingfishers.According to BREEF’s

Outreach and EducationOfficer, Allison Ballester-Longley, “BREEF isvery grateful to Mr.Stevie Connett of FamilyIsland Research andEducation and BahamasSea Turtle Research forfacilitating the produc-tion of the newbrochures. And, wewould like to remind

everyone that responsiblefishers, know and obeyfisheries regulations,respect closed seasons,respect the rules ofMarine Protected Areasand purchases onlylegally and sustainablyharvested seafood.”BREEF is a non-gov-

ernmental nonprofitBahamian foundationconcerned with educatingour people about thevalue of and need forconserving our marineenvironment. BREEFpromotes the conserva-tion of the Bahamianmarine environment thatsustains our way of life.Persons interested inobtaining a copies of thebrochure can contactBREEF at 327-9000 oremail: [email protected]

4 BREEF presented 1000 copies of “A Quick Guide to Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas” pocket brochures to Department of Marine Resources and RoyalBahamas Defence Force Photo: (L-R) Assistant Commander Operations, Commander Chapell Whymms, Captain Coral Harbour, Captain Adrian Chriswell (back), Allison

Ballester-Longley, BREEF Outreach & Education Officer, Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director, BREEF, Commander Defence Force, Commodore Tellis A.Bethel, Kevin Glinton, Education Coordinator, BREEF, Commander Operations and Airwing Commanding Officer, Commander Shonedel Pinder, Assistant Base Supply

Officer, Senior Lieutenant Elvis Bullard and Legal Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Commander Floyd Moxey

PHA: ‘Extra Demands

‘Highest Level of Union Unrest’

that their holiday pay besettled. The governmenthas agreed to this. It istime for them to get backinto the hospitals and theclinics and render muchneeded service to theBahamian people.”In addition to their

holiday pay, the doctors’demands range fromincreased health insur-ance to a request forCrown land for the con-struction of a BDUoffice.According to the list of

new demands, the BDUwants a timeline andagreement on one of itsnon-monetary compensa-tion options as proposedin its communique onMarch 7, 2019. The non-monetary

compensation optionsinclude an increase in thecurrent health insurancebenefits of junior doctorsso that it would be on par

with police and immigra-tion officers.Other non-monetary

compensation optionscall for the constructionof a paid parking facilityon the hospital groundsfor public use and taxexemptions. Approximately eight

months ago, the PHA andthe BDU entered into dis-cussions concerning thesettlement of holiday payand both parties negotiat-ed in good faith duringthat period. According to the PHA,

one of the major pointsdiscussed between theparties were “the meansof independently verify-ing each junior doctorengaged in providingservices on each of the 47holidays incurred duringthe period in question”.The other two points

included the “identifica-tion of the number ofhours each junior doctorengaged in providing

service on each holidayand the number of install-ments over which theultimate agreed compen-sation amount would bepaid”.The PHA explained

that as there were nomeans of identifyingeach junior doctor or thespecific number of hoursworked each holiday dueto junior doctors not uti-lizing the swipe system,it recommended, and theBDU agreed to accept apayout that applied anacross-the-board settle-ment to all junior doctorsemployed by the PHA. “Under this arrange-

ment, holiday pay com-pensation would be basedon length of service dur-ing the period underreview, rather than actualhours worked on holi-days by each junior doc-tor,” the PHA statementread. “On completion of the

analysis by the PHA, it

was determined that onaverage, the PHArequired the Full TimeEquivalent (FTE) of 108junior doctors to workover the course of a 24-hour period on a holiday.After some back andforth between the PHAand the BDU, the BDUultimately agreed that thePHA’s assessment was infact correct. Using thisinformation, along withthe hourly base rate paidto junior doctors, thePHA calculated the fullcost to engage the servic-es of 108 junior doctorsat double time to be$5.97 million.”The PHA recognized,

however, that while thefull cost amounted to$5.97 million gross, eachjunior doctor would havereceived in their paypackages each monthwhere a holiday fell, aportion of their doublepay in the form of eighthours of base pay, which

covered the initial eighthours of work theyengaged in during theirrequired 24-hour shift. “The value of the first

eight hours of work foreach junior doctor overthe 47 holidays incurredaccumulated to$995,708. Given the factthat this amount hadalready been paid to thejunior doctors over theperiod in question, thePHA advised the BDUthat this amount neededto be deducted from thegross figure of $5.97 mil-lion, resulting in a netpayable of $4.98 mil-lion,” the PHA explained.“This explanation was

provided to the BDU andwas accepted by them byway of a letter dated May14th, 2019. The PHAfinds it totally disingenu-ous of the BDU to givethe Bahamian public theperception that theMinister of Health is nowattempting to ‘insist’ that

they sign an agreementthat deducts an amountthat is due them.“After both parties

agreed that the amountdue to the junior doctorswas in fact $4.98 million,the PHA proposed thatthe amounts be paid oversix semi-annual install-ments. The BDU coun-tered with a request for arepayment period of foursemi-annual installments.The PHA advised theBDU that its financialposition would not allowfor the repayment to beshortened to four install-ments, but in the spirit ofcompromise, agreed tomeet the BDU half-wayby proposing a repay-ment over five install-ments. This offer wasextended to the BDU inJune of 2019 but to-date,the BDU has refused toaccept the compromiseand instead made thedecision to strike onAugust 21st, 2019.”

at his mausoleum,Cooper said the mattercalled for discussionswith both parties.“This level of unrest

will not continue if thegovernment were to

approach it in matter thatwould make sense to theBahamian people,” Mr.Cooper said.“I believe there’s

something to be saidabout the ability to sitdown and have sensibleconversation, to listen to

the Bahamian people, tounderstand their needs,to present yourself ingood faith and fairnessand really have a line ofopen communicationwhere everyone under-stands the circum-stances.”

He added that theMinnis administration ison its “high horses andhappy being the govern-ment,” but its membersare not recognizing theywere elected to look outfor the people, instead ofserving their best inter-

est.Last week, junior doc-

tors at the PrincessMargaret Hospitalremoved all non-essen-tial services and onlyemergency staffremained on the job afternot receiving their holi-

day pay from the PublicHospitals Authority.Following the strike,

hundreds of BPSU mem-bers protested outsideCabinet office hoping tomeet with the prime min-ister concerning theiroutstanding holiday pay.




vol. 31 - no. 137 tuesday - august 27th, 2019 75 cents...

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