The Tribune

DNA spokesman on labour issues Alfred Poitier called on the FNM to review their own actions with regard to victimisation before speaking out against the PLP.

He said since the May 7 general election, there has been significant talk about reassignment of civil servants, and firing of contractual workers and consultants.

Mr Poitier said: “I have heard the opposition party speak out/asking for information surrounding some of the claims.

“Ironically, these are the same claims that were made against the now opposition immediately after the election of 2002 when they lost and the governing party after the election of 2007 when they lost.

“My point is the saga continues; the same old political games of the past are clearly here in the present.

“The reality is we need to move to the next level, we must make it a point to state the facts clearly and make decisions rationally.

“The politics is over, it is now time to serve the Bahamian people. I personally do not want to hear political rhetoric, I want conversation with substance and solutions to our problems.”

Accusing the official opposition party of making noise simply to be heard, Mr Poitier said the fact remains that public servants cannot be fired without cause.

“You may ask a person to leave your employ or you can send them home but you have to pay them according to their employment contract and if none exists, the law is explicit as to how an individual must be paid if he is terminated without cause.

“Therefore, those individuals who were on government contracts that were not yet expired, who were asked to leave, had to be paid out for the remainder of their contract term unless they were in breach (not performing as per the contract) – then they could have been terminated.

“The bottom line is even if they were no longer allowed to work they would have been paid for the term they were supposed to work under the contract.

“The truth is in most cases the consultant positions awarded by our government (past and present) were for the most part political patronage for the support that individual gave the party at some point.

“In many cases it has been found that these consultants didn’t truly have expertise in the areas they were hired to consult.

“However, the party in power felt comfortable that they would see to ensuring the agenda of the party is being carried out in the area they were assigned.

“So if this is the premise of your consultancy or contract why should you have a problem when you are let go because your government is no longer in power?

Mr Poitier urged civil servants to remember that regardless of which government is in power, they are still all Bahamians and should execute their job to the best of their ability.

“Contrary to popular belief, the government does not pay your salaries, the taxpayers do,” he said.