Government found itself in another victimisation controversy last night after seven FNM supporters were fired from BAIC.
FNM leaders have called for the resignation of the corporation’s executive chairman Sidney Stubbs, who described the corporationﾒs acting general manager as a “festering sore on the backside of the corporation.”
PLP sources were wondering what move Prime Minister Perry Christie would make against Mr. Stubbs in what political observers said is turning out to be a “major embarrassment” for the PLP.
Fred Williamson, Yelverton Cox, Joyce Treco, Levant Thurston, Darrell Granger and Bert Mullins were fired by Mr. Stubbs on Friday. Geoffrey Stuart, acting general manager had submitted his resignation effective September 30 after contentious correspondence with Mr. Stubbs but was asked to leave the property on Friday September 13.
The seven staff members held various posts, ranging from manager to administrator to handyman and spent between two to nine years at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation.
The staff, who were told that government was downsizing the corporation, said they would hold the PLP government to its promise of “no victimisation”.
Said Fred Williamson, a systems administrator at BAIC and vice chairman of the FNM, “I believe I was victimised and I will hold the prime minister accountable to his word.”
Mr. Williamson was also among those who were warned in a letter to publicly withdraw alleged statements made against Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller. Ms. Treco and Mr. Mullins were also named in the letter, along with Karen Rodgers and Portia Smith, who were not among those dismissed on Friday.
In the letter dated September 12 to Mr. Stuart, Mr. Stubbs warned the corporation’s acting general manager to withdraw the alleged statements or “leave this corporation.”
Mr. Stuart allegedly publicly impugned the character, credibility and reputation of Mr. Miller while in a public bar with “FNM cohorts” according to Mr. Stubb’s letter. “These rumours must stop forthwith,” said the letter.
In another letter dated September 10 and copied to the prime minister, Mr. Stubbs refers to Mr. Stuart as a festering sore on the backside of the corporation.” According to Mr. Miller, Mr. Christie never got a copy of the letter.
The victimisation claims come amid a police investigation into reports that corporation employees were downloading pornographic websites on the in-house system or on Mr. Stubbs’ computer using his name.
Mr. Stubbs was appointed chairman of the BAIC in mid July but there has not been an official announcement.
Another of the dismissed workers, Yelverton Cox, the Industrial Park administrator told The Tribune that he was summoned to a meeting with Mr. Stubbs on Friday afternoon and told that his position and two others at the park was being made redundant because government was divesting its interest in the Soldier Road Industrial Park.
The former FNM candidate said that not long after Mr. Stubbs and his “entourage” – two BAIC workers, deputy chairman Caleb Outten and a group of non-BAIC workers – left the property, locksmiths were at the office to re-key the locks. He was told that the redundancy would take effect Monday, September 16.
When the tribune spoke with Mr. Cox yesterday he was making preparations to return the government vehicle he used while managing the park.
