Are BTC employees in a losing battle with the government
thenassauguardian editorial
Employees of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) went on the offensive on Tuesday, as a sign of their disagreement with government’s move to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cable & Wireless in relation to the sale of a 51 percent stake in BTC. The protest action on Tuesday, in which BTC employees paraded around the company’s head office on JFK Drive, brought flashbacks of what happened when ZNS workers tried to fight government’s downsizing of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.
Also familiar is BCPOU President Bernard Evans, who was unsuccessful in his fight for ZNS employees against the government. It seems strange that after losing that battle not so long ago, union members are still confident that Evans can get them the kind of results they seek.
Evans is the same and his fight is against the same foe to which he lost, the Government of The Bahamas. We saw how the ZNS fiasco turned out. Will this BTC fight be any different?
It should be noted though, that a significant difference in this fight is that President of the Bahamas Christian Council Rev. Patrick Paul, and newly-elected President of the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas Jennifer Isaacs-Dotson, have jumped on board with BTC from the get go.
This battle could turn out to be a much bigger fight for the government than ZNS was.
When it comes to BTC who knows what to expect? Reports suggest that Tuesday’s action was just the beginning of what could end up being a massive national strike involving various unions. Yesterday the BTC employees were at it again, this time with a motorcade through the streets of New Providence, and a mass rally at the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union Hall, at which representatives of various unions were on hand to give their support.
The prime minister stared down Bernard Evans, called his bluff and won a battle without even unholstering his gun during the ZNS fiasco. With Evans at the helm of the battle with BTC, Prime Minister Ingraham may be looking for history to repeat itself.
12/9/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.
Showing posts with label Rev. Patrick Paul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rev. Patrick Paul. Show all posts
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
...the Free National Movement (FNM) must be careful that it does not make a rudderless and reactionary opposition Progressive Liberal Party seem attractive to voters based on its decisions
Angering electorate at election time
thenassauguardian editorial
We were surprised at a notice in the newspapers on Tuesday. The government has decided to inform the public that police, beginning on Monday, will strictly enforce the seatbelt laws enacted in March 2002.
We support the enforcement of the seatbelt laws. The laws protect drivers and passengers. They also help reduce health care costs by preventing more serious injuries.
However, the government must understand the culture it is a part of. Bahamians are not accustomed to wearing seatbelts in The Bahamas. Consequently, a more reasonable notice period is needed in order for motorists to become aware and more comfortable with the change in enforcement policy.
That notice period could have been a month to two months, including a robust public relations campaign focused on ensuring the seatbelt message is widely disseminated throughout the country.
If on Monday police start handing out $300 fines to motorists for not wearing seatbelts, the electorate will not be pleased.
Even if a member of the government mentioned that this would happen in some obscure speech, few Bahamians thus far are aware that this significant change is to take place.
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) sale is also leading to growing unease in the country.
The government is about to sell 51 percent of BTC to the British firm Cable and Wireless Communications.
This paper has gone on record stating that Bahamian assets should be sold to Bahamians – this includes joint ventures between Bahamians and strategic partners.
Having a Bahamian owner, or a joint venture ownership structure between Bahamians and a strategic partner, would ensure more profits from the company stay in the country. Those profits that stay here would help create more jobs and prosperity in The Bahamas.
Both unions that represent workers at BTC have said they support Bahamians being owners of a privatized BTC.
Christian Council President Rev. Patrick Paul made comments yesterday that should concern the government.
“And so we stand with you this morning in agreement that (BTC) should belong to the Bahamians,” said Paul to those assembled during the union protest at BTC.
Paul assured the hundreds of BTC workers that the Christian church in The Bahamas supports their cause – that is, standing in opposition to the BTC sale to foreigners.
Earlier this year, the Free National Movement administration considered legalizing gambling for Bahamians and legal residents. The opposition, led by the church, stopped the government from making the bold move. That same church movement the government backed down from is now standing in opposition to the BTC sale.
Governing parties must pursue policies considered right for the country. They have an electoral mandate to do so. This authority, however, must be exercised in conjunction with the current moods and sentiments of the people.
When a political party pursues a policy it thinks is right, but that policy angers the people, this decision by the party usually leads it to opposition.
For its sake, the FNM must be careful that it does not make a rudderless and reactionary opposition Progressive Liberal Party seem attractive to voters based on its decisions.
12/8/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
thenassauguardian editorial
We were surprised at a notice in the newspapers on Tuesday. The government has decided to inform the public that police, beginning on Monday, will strictly enforce the seatbelt laws enacted in March 2002.
We support the enforcement of the seatbelt laws. The laws protect drivers and passengers. They also help reduce health care costs by preventing more serious injuries.
However, the government must understand the culture it is a part of. Bahamians are not accustomed to wearing seatbelts in The Bahamas. Consequently, a more reasonable notice period is needed in order for motorists to become aware and more comfortable with the change in enforcement policy.
That notice period could have been a month to two months, including a robust public relations campaign focused on ensuring the seatbelt message is widely disseminated throughout the country.
If on Monday police start handing out $300 fines to motorists for not wearing seatbelts, the electorate will not be pleased.
Even if a member of the government mentioned that this would happen in some obscure speech, few Bahamians thus far are aware that this significant change is to take place.
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) sale is also leading to growing unease in the country.
The government is about to sell 51 percent of BTC to the British firm Cable and Wireless Communications.
This paper has gone on record stating that Bahamian assets should be sold to Bahamians – this includes joint ventures between Bahamians and strategic partners.
Having a Bahamian owner, or a joint venture ownership structure between Bahamians and a strategic partner, would ensure more profits from the company stay in the country. Those profits that stay here would help create more jobs and prosperity in The Bahamas.
Both unions that represent workers at BTC have said they support Bahamians being owners of a privatized BTC.
Christian Council President Rev. Patrick Paul made comments yesterday that should concern the government.
“And so we stand with you this morning in agreement that (BTC) should belong to the Bahamians,” said Paul to those assembled during the union protest at BTC.
Paul assured the hundreds of BTC workers that the Christian church in The Bahamas supports their cause – that is, standing in opposition to the BTC sale to foreigners.
Earlier this year, the Free National Movement administration considered legalizing gambling for Bahamians and legal residents. The opposition, led by the church, stopped the government from making the bold move. That same church movement the government backed down from is now standing in opposition to the BTC sale.
Governing parties must pursue policies considered right for the country. They have an electoral mandate to do so. This authority, however, must be exercised in conjunction with the current moods and sentiments of the people.
When a political party pursues a policy it thinks is right, but that policy angers the people, this decision by the party usually leads it to opposition.
For its sake, the FNM must be careful that it does not make a rudderless and reactionary opposition Progressive Liberal Party seem attractive to voters based on its decisions.
12/8/2010
thenassauguardian editorial
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