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Bahamian Politics Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


DNA Supports Police Compensation
By Stephen Greenslade, DNA Candidate for Golden Isles Spokesperson for National Security
Aug 22, 2016 - 5:30:44 PM

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In the past many weeks and months, Bahamians from all sectors of the country’s workforce have watched as labor relations between the government and the country’s working class have deteriorated impacting members, various public sector unions as well as hotel and tourism employees. While not being part of a unionized environment, police officers and other members of the disciplined have also found themselves at the center of labor related disputes with the government. That said, the DNA has been very troubled by the seemingly snail’s pace at which the government is moving to address the concerns raised by members of the Police Staff Association regarding overtime payments and compensations earned by officers during increased work hours in 2013 and 2014.

Bahamians will remember the yeoman’s work which members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force were called on to do at that time; a time when a spate of violent crimes threatened communities, families and our very way of life in a way we had never seen before. Rather than shrink away from the task, our police officers rose to the occasion. That decision meant – in many cases – spending more time away from their own families to protect others. Their decision to fulfill their primary obligations to protect and serve did in fact EARN their overtime compensation as laid out by the Employment Act and later confirmed by the courts.

Even after the intervention of the courts however, police officers have had to wait. Recent media reports have detailed communications between the Attorney General’s Office and PSA’s attorney Wayne Munroe, in which the government has finally acknowledged the ruling of the courts and expressed its intention to comply by granting time off to officers who remain on the force and financial compensation to those who have retired since the completion of the added work hours. Unfortunately, attempts by the PSA to iron out the finer details of that arrangement have been met with the usual red tape.

The Democratic National Alliance urges the executives of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to move with urgency in its efforts to bring this matter to a satisfactory closure. As employers, employees and citizens of this great country we all understand all too well that employee morale is one of the most impactful elements within the working environment and can easily be affected by any discord between management and the middle and line levels of an organization; the Police Force is no exception. Like any other organization with such a large structure, it must be assumed that differing views may arise, given the country’s current state of affairs however, it is vitally important that the contributions of hardworking police officers never be disregarded; and their efforts to maintain law and order rewarded when necessary.

The DNA fully supports both the PSA and the executive of the Police Force as they work through these temporary barriers and reiterate our appeal for a speedy but thorough processing of time and attendance for the officers who are entitled to receive the relief sought through the efforts of the PSA.

Stephen Greenslade

DNA Candidate, Golden Isles

DNA Spokesperson for National Security


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