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Volume: 118 No.152, July 5, 2021
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‘UNIONS ACTING UP OF LITTLE CONCERN’
Labour chief dismisses sabre rattling as part of pre-election season By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government’s top labour official yesterday reassured that workplace unrest “ain’t as serious as it appears”, and added: “This is the culture of trade unions in The Bahamas.” John Pinder, Director of Labour, speaking out after union executives argued that industrial relations are at an all-time low, asserted that it was not unusual for public sector unions in particular “to act up to get matters addressed” when a general election looms large. Noting unions seek to
“burn up the fire” to pressure the sitting government, using members’ votes as leverage, Mr Pinder nevertheless chastised management at some government agencies - especially Bahamas Power & Light - for moving too slowly on his department’s recommendations for solving union grievances. Emphasising he was speaking for himself, Mr Pinder said: “I know this is an election climate, and the season is near for an election, so the unions that have outstanding matters with then Government, they certainly burn up the fire. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS
...BPL STAFF ISSUES STILL UNRESOLVED By TANYA SMITHCARTWRIGHT tsmith-cartwright@ tribunemedia.net
AFTER Bahamas Power and Light employees walked off the job last week in protest, government officials have held conciliatory talks with union officials, however, there is still a level of distrust with the company’s management.
Bahamas Electrical Workers Union President Kyle Wilson said yesterday Minister of Works and Deputy Prime Minister Desmond Bannister held a meeting with the union and executive management in an attempt to resolve the issues that led union members to walk off the job last Monday. SEE PAGE FIVE
PM URGES PUBLIC TO REGISTER FOR VOTES
By KHRISNA RUSSELL Tribune Chief Reporter krussell@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has called on people to register to vote in the “shortest possible time”. While he gave no clue as to when an election could be called, Dr Minnis said it is the collective will of the people that decides who should govern the country. He made the remarks yesterday morning during Calvary Deliverance Church’s 39th convention where he referred to the country’s upcoming 48th anniversary of independence on July 10. SEE PAGE THREE
FOUR MORE WOMEN DIE FROM COVID HEALTH officials have reported four new deaths from COVID-19. The deaths of the four women all from New Providence occurred last month. A woman, 51, died on June 26; a 56-year-old died on June 24; a woman, 57, died June 10 and the final fatality was a 78-year-old woman on June 30. These deaths have taken the COVID-19 death toll to 250. SEE PAGE FOUR
HERE WE GO AFTER a year of little to no tourism because of COVID-19, the fireworks over Atlantis for US Independence celebrations have never been so welcome a sight. With the resort boasting occupancy numbers as high as 90 percent over coming weeks too, it is a sign of the start of the resurgence of the Bahamian economy. Photo: Racardo Thomas/Tribune Staff
INDEPENDENCE PLAN STRIKES WRONG NOTE By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net SOME Bahamian performers are upset over plans for this year’s Independence Day celebration, which allegedly leaves out a mixture of top local secular acts in favour of a Christian theme. In a letter addressed to Mark Humes, the chairman of the Independence Secretariat, concerns were voiced about the issue.
MARK Humes in the House of Assembly last month. “As you are aware, due to the pandemic, this past year has been challenging for entertainers, and
employment has dropped to an all time low,” the letter said. “We look forward to the festivals and the independence celebrations for regular employment and an opportunity for us to showcase our talent…. “Hence, it has come as a surprise and extremely disconcerting to discover that this year’s celebration will not be using the top secular and gospel performers.” SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
KANOO EYES CARIBBEAN EXPANSION
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamian digital payments provider at the centre of the health travel visa controversy says it expects to gain permission to launch in two other Caribbean territories within the next six months. Nicholas Rees, Kanoo’s chairman, told Tribune Business that the company presently has two licensing applications underway in other nations, which he declined to name, as part of its drive to “take The Bahamas to the world through technology”. FULL STORY - SEE BUSINESS