Addressing the House of Assembly, the former President of the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) said that the Free National Movement is highly noted to instigating such action over the years.
This charge came with strong antagonism from Opposition Leader Alvin Smith, who has challenged the Minister to expose to whom his allegations were levied.
Further, he accused the Minister of being a chief initiator of such pranks. Minister Gibson responded that when he was president of the union, he directed certain individuals to do certain things but that was solely during his representation of the union.
“Get up on the floor and I will tell you who the person is,” said Mr. Gibson.” I know from personal knowledge that the members opposite……..” He was not allowed to finish the statement because of the uproar that erupted within the Opposition.
“I plead guilty if those people followed my instructions, but from a position of knowledge, I know for a fact that the members opposite have a history of orchestrating industrial unrest. That is all I am saying,” said Minister Gibson.
At this point the Member of Parliament for Montagu Brent Symonette rose on a point of order, and questioned whether his name was mixed up in such allegations.
“You said members opposite, so single me out or state the facts,” he said. Noting that he did not want to be charged with others who might be culpable.
Leader of the Opposition Alvin Smith rose on a point of order and questioned whether Minister Gibson was implying that members of the FNM has anything to do with the most recent sick outs over the last few weeks, at the National Insurance Board or Bahamasair.
Minister Gibson retorted, “I don’t understand why he don’t want the details for 1992, and he want the details for 2003. Why don’t he ask for all the details so that I can give him all.”
Mr. Smith said “Yes, I have no problem with you giving all of the details of 1992 or 2003. Give them all.”
Mr. Gibson responded, “Alright. Let me give you all then. Mr. Speaker, at that time members of the party opposite met with us at that time, and at that time we were talking about the cost of living at Batelco and we were upset over the fact that our contract called for a pay increase based on the cost of living by Government, that we were not able to get.”
He said that the union was at the point of frustration whereby they were ready to go the airport and shut down the airport, and FNM party officers met with them – advising when to push more and when to hold back.
Minister Gibson said that as they were about to close down the airport, the union was again advised not to do so because it would have put the country in a state of emergency and cause the governing party to post-pone the elections.
“They said no, no – pull back at that time. So Mr. Speaker, obviously the member, at that time – I don’t know if he is in denial now or if he didn’t know at that time,” he said.
Mr. Smith responded that the only thing Minister Gibson had proven was that his union made a decision to shut down the airport. That is what he said. They came to a point where they were going down to the airport to shut it down and then he said that the Free National Movement suggested that they don’t and pull back. That is what he just said, Mr. Speaker.
Minister Gibson rose again in an effort to fully clarify his previous statements.
“I said that through the whole process, we were being directed. Not only the BCPOU. Other unions as well,” he said. “You know why I am here now? I am here now because I repented.”
By Vanessa Rolle, The Nassau Guardian
