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Bahamas Public Service Union Celebrates 56 Years
By Tanya Munroe, BIS
Jul 1, 2015 - 11:42:38 PM

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Top - Several members of the Bahamas Public Services Union were honoured during a special luncheon on Tuesday at Le Chateau on the Green. Seated form left: Maryann Newchurch, Christine Outten, Celestene Russell and Gwen Jones. In middle row from left: Boisey H. Roberts, Kaylesa Simmons, Willis Gray, Herbert Brown who is Managing Director of PHA, Mary Deleveaux, John Curtis and Union President, John Pinder. In back row from left: Alexander Burrows, Executive Vice President Kingsley Ferguson, Vice President Verna Bonaby and Lionel Fernander. Bottom Left - Herbert Brown, managing director of the Public Hospitals Authority and former secretary general of the Bahamas Public Services Union was the guest speaker. Bottom Right - John Pinder, BPSU President (BIS Photos/Andrew Miller)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama - In celebration of 56 years, the Bahamas Public Service Union hosted a luncheon on Tuesday at Le Chateau on the Green to salute past and present members for their services and dedication to the union.

Held under the theme, "Solidarity Forever, Together We Stand," the keynote speaker, Managing Director of the Public Hospital Authority and a former secretary of the BPSU, Herbert Brown stated, "the men and women are examples of commitment and courage, having put themselves on the line to advance the work and purpose of the BPSU."  This union which boasts of more than 5,000 members was described by Mr. Brown  as "unique, among organized labour because of its scope and diversity” and runs the gamut from the highest executive and administrative positions to the blue collar and support workers in the government ministries boards and corporations.

Mr. Brown took the opportunity  to place before Bahamian workers, and Public Servants in particular, the challenges that continues to plague the system with the persistent stigma of being labelled as unproductive. He said in an analysis done of the Bahamas 2012 Wages and Productivity Survey Report, done by the International Development Bank and it noted, "Employers value, but have trouble recruiting, job-specific skills, soft skills and basic literacy skills. The lack of these skills in the labour force is an obstacle to productivity and limits workers’ employability.”  He said that while this study was aimed at employers and employees in the private sector, workers of every stripe in the Public Service have been painted with the same brush."

He said while it is the perception of many in The Bahamas that "we are unproductive and uncaring in delivery of Public Service to the Bahamas he challenged all to implement initiatives and programs to redress this perception and underlying  realities that changes this stigma of our public and private workers.

He congratulated the leadership of the organization led by John Pinder for recognizing and saluting past and present stalwarts for their many years of tireless and selfless service in building The Bahamas and in particular for being warriors for justice and workers’ rights across The Bahamas.


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