The Tribune

STAFF at the Bahamas Information Services are reportedly “up in arms” over two deputy directors who they believe are political appointees, unqualified to do their jobs.

BIS Senior Information Officer Gladstone Thurston yesterday criticised both Deputy Directors Latore Mackey, and Elcott Colbey claiming that they are “totally incompetent” for the jobs they hold.

“Here are two persons who have absolutely no knowledge whatsoever about anything dealing with communications or broadcast being sent in to tell professionals who grew up in the profession what to do and how to do it. Now mind you the professionals do not mind being told or being given ideas or suggestions, but the ideas and suggestions being given by them is evidence that they do not know, absolutely nothing, to get BIS on the good foot and get it going,” he said.

According to Mr Thurston, ever since Mr Coleby arrived at BIS a few months ago, he has shown “hostility” towards him. As proof of such, Mr Thurston produced a letter of reprimand from Mr Coleby over a missed assignment he was scheduled to cover at the Constitutional Review Commission.

In the letter penned by Mr Coleby he alleges that Mr Thurston failed to attend the event to provide the requisite editorial coverage and provided no notification of absence or explanation for his failure to carry out this directive.

“On Monday, 21 January 2013, I spoke to you in person when I requested a meeting with you, Mr (Edward) Ellis (Executive Director), Mr (Anthony) Capron (Deputy Director), Mrs (Linda) Major, (Personnel Manager) and me to discuss your missed assignment. Your reply to me was ‘that meeting is not going to happen, don’t hold your breath on that.’

“This is rank insubordination and demonstrates a disdain for authority. This kind of behaviour undermines the operations and objectives of BIS and will not be tolerated. Be advised that your conduct is noted and your personnel file duly documented. BIS reserves the right to address any future infraction in accordance with established department guidelines,” the letter reads.

In his response, Mr Thurston wrote that he did not miss any assignment, noting that there are “many ways” of covering an assignment “as those of us who grew up in journalism and communications know.

“One does not have to be present at the assignment, depending on the assignment, to cover the assignment. And that is how I intended to handle that event, a very legitimate procedure for that assignment. I fail to see what the fuss is all about.”

Mr Thurston added that if Mr Coleby feels that he has displayed “rank insubordination” towards him, he will pat himself on the back as he deserves “every bit of it and more”.

“He is merely a fat cat political crony, a leach on to the public purse to the tune of a reported more than $100,000 annually, being provided free brand new vehicle, free gas, free telephone, and free God knows what else, all at the public’s expense, and his sole qualification to be employed in any capacity at BIS is that he is a butt-kissing supporter of the governing party. To insult professionals at BIS by foisting on us someone like him is to invite disdain,” Mr Thurston wrote.

The Tribune contacted Mr Coleby for comment, who directed this newspaper to BIS’s Executive Director Edward Ellis. Mr Ellis said that this was an internal matter and he had no response to the competence of the individuals as that is a “matter of opinion.”

“We are dealing with the matter,” he added.

Having spoken out in such a forceful manner, Mr Thurston said he was not concerned about losing his job, as he must take a stand against what he sees as outright cronyism in government.

“Persons are given top jobs in government at the people’s expense, positions that they are totally not qualified for. Now the government has told me I am approaching the 65th year of being on planet Earth, which means I am up for retirement. The government has promised a $500 a month pension, so if they want to take that $500 a month pension it won’t matter to me. I will still sleep just as good under the clear blue skies as I would in any other palatial surroundings. But I must take a stand, because the employees at BIS are really up in arms. We have some of the best journalists at BIS.

“They not only have no experience in working journalism, but it is patently obvious they have no experience in management at all either. Saying it is a slap in the face is putting it mildly. And yes, sure the government could fire me or whatever they want to do. I guess I am ready for that,” he said.