RE: THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION UNAUTHORIZED VISIT & TOUR OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS & URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Despite his efforts Leader of the Free National Movement the Hon. Hubert Minnis failed to disrupt the work of the Ministry of Public Works & Urban Development today when he led a delegation from the Free National Movement to the Northern Compound of the Ministry.
The delegation included; the Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town , Renward Wells, Mr. Frankie Campbell – Southern Shores, Mr.Howard Johnson, South Beach, and Mr. Gadville McDonald Cat Island.
Dr. Minnis and his delegation’s visit breached several protocols of the Public Service, disregarded and by-passed the Ministry’s administration and proceeded on an unauthorized walkabout on the Ministry’s northern compound and attempted to conduct meetings with the Ministry’s staff during the course of the normal work day.
Despite the breached of these known protocols of the Public Service, the Leader of the Opposition Free National Movement choose not to seek the approval of the Permanent Secretary or to advise of his delegation’s visit to Ministry.
This afternoon Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Public Works & Urban Development Hon. Philip Davis and Permanent Secretary Mr. Colin Higgs met with President of Bahamas Public Services Union Mr. John Pinder and Secretary General Mr. S.J. Miller, who confirmed that there are no outstanding industrial issues with the Ministry of Public Works and Urban Development.
As President of The Bahamas Public Services Union Mr. Pinder noted that he still represents the interests of Public Officers and cannot provide a reason for the visit of Dr. Minnis and his delegation.
I cry shame on this disgraceful and hypocritical political posturing of the Leader of the Opposition and that of his delegation as he choose to use the productive hours of the day to bring his political campaign on the grounds of the Ministry of Works. This action by the Leader of the Opposition speaks directly to his leadership skills in respecting the role and the administration of the public service.
Public Ministry’s and its environs should not be used as a political rally field by politicians as it were today. It is indeed sad most disappointing and indeed unfortunate that as a former Minister in the previous administration, that this well known principle escapes Dr. Minnis.
Since his visit was not labor related as confirmed by the President of The Bahamas Public Services Union, Dr. Minnis’ interference with the work flow at the Ministry did not nothing more than to affirmed his feeble and failed effort to score very cheap political mileage at the expense of public servants. The public service is called upon to be nuetral.
Yet today, Dr. Minnis has chosen to challenge this concept in the most blatant of ways. Such political posturing creates a polarized and an unproductive environment
I would remind the Leader of the Free National Movement that at a time when there is a call for greater level productivity within the public service , his agenda should not be one to delay productivity and quality of service nor should it be to disrespect the administration of the Government Ministry’s or to assume the role of a trade unionist. I admonished Dr. Minnis to know his defined role.
END—-
