All is not well in the BCPOU.
Several key members have expressed their displeasure of how their union has been prostituted.
There has been a sense of disgust when membership realised that the PLP had highjacked their plight. But since then, the spilt in the union became more evident when the obvious pressure was being applied heavier.
We are not happy that our union has allowed itself to be used by a political entity. What is missing is that this union has people from all political parties, so how could the executive allow the PLP to take complete control of our efforts? It is the weakness of the leadership that was exploited. It is the inexperience of the leadership that has magnified the problem.
We noticed that the president is adamant to continue on the same course, knowing that we all do not support this and have expressed this to him on several occasions. We are also privy to information that one of the top leaders in unions in the country advised Mr Evans not to continue with this exercise. But it appears that he must complete whatever he probably promised to do.
We are embarrassed that Mr Evans did not read the tea leaves and see that we’re not in support of this. The gathering on Bay Street, the first time, was mostly people sent there by the PLP; it was not our members, so the number was ficticious.
BCPOU were embarrassed for the extremely poor showing on RM Bailey Park and were not surprised that no one showed up on Bay Street this week, because we decided that we are not going to be pawns in a PLP game. It is so sad that we are now on a different course because we thought that we had a legitimate gripe.
Mr Evans still has time to redeem himself for making such an asinine statement, trying to incite the Bahamian people.
I know he is not expecting me and my friends who have mortgages to go downtown to assist the PLP in destabilising this country. It is so unfortunate that greed has blinded the president and caused some to act crazy.
As a member of the BCPOU, I expect Bernard Evans to apologise to all of the sensible union members and Bahamians everywhere about any attempt to destabilise this country. He and his family live here, how could he destroy it? If he was wise, he would try to solidify his own position as president, because many behind the scenes are not comfortable with his style. It resembles another former union leader we had, not too long ago, who had no respect for himself or his membership. His behaviour has already exposed him otherwise.
Mr Evans does not speak for all of us. Many of us are happy and in great anticipation of being in great environment where politicians would not have any say in who gets hired and who gets promoted. We are happy we do not have to go to the minister’s office to meet for our jobs to be secured, like we did in 2003.
We are happy that we would be given an opportunity to advance in a company with far reaching influence. The sky is now the limits. At least, now we can “share” in the economic pie. We can’t wait!
Disgruntled BCPOU Member
Nassau, Bahamas
February, 2011
