Nassau, Bahamas - The following is a statement issued by the College of The Bahamas Office of Communication:

The College of The Bahamas wishes to remind the public that Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB) President Mr. Mark Humes served on the Presidential Advisory Search Committee; the committee that interviewed, vetted and recommended Dr. Rodney Smith.  Mr. Humes also sits as the faculty representative on the College Council, which approved the Search Committee’s recommendation of Dr. Rodney Smith and advanced his name to the Minister of Education.   Therefore it is disingenuous for the UTEB President to publicly express surprise at the handling of the Presidential appointment process when he was intimately and ardently involved at every stage of that process.   Mr. Humes did not deem it “irrational” or “outrageous” to participate in a joint press conference in August with the Minister of Education to announce an appointment that had yet to be negotiated. Mr. Humes was quoted as saying he was “glad to see us arrive at this point where we now have resolution and can move forward.”  

The College is also alarmed that the UTEB President is so free with confidential information and strongly advises the Union President to adhere strictly to his obligations as a Council member.  The Union leader's vociferous campaigning and public relations on behalf of Dr. Smith’s candidacy is unprecedented and certainly out of the norm; one would be hard pressed to recall such a conspicuous effort on the part of any union leader at COB or elsewhere.  Mr. Humes’ behaviour seems to suggest that UTEB intends to give the prospective new President its full and unequivocal support in all his future efforts on The College’s behalf.  Indeed, Mr. Humes announced at the August press conference with the Minister of Education that he “anticipate[d] the full support of the faculty members at The College behind this new leadership and behind the leadership that will be moving us through this 2014 academic year into our transition to university.”  We invite the public to watch closely and to expect the same level of animated support throughout Dr. Smith’s tenure as President, when he assumes the post.