Angry scenes at union HQ as president’s suspension overturned

Belinda Wilson holds a press conference yesterday at the Bahamas Union of Teachers.

As of Tuesday, January 20, 2015

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TEMPERS flared at the Bahamas Union of Teachers headquarters yesterday after a three-member appeals committee overturned the suspension of BUT President Belinda Wilson.

At noon, the appeals committee presented Mrs Wilson with its ruling that it found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the president as was alleged.

After being informed of the judgment, Mrs Wilson then tried to assume her position as head of the union, proceeding to notify the media that a press conference would be held at the BUT on Bethel Avenue where she would make an announcement on her reinstatement.

This angered BUT Vice-President Zane Lightbourne and Secretary General John Musgrove who both told The Tribune that Mrs Wilson was “disrespectful” to have called a press conference the same day that the appeals committee made its decision.

According to both men, Mrs Wilson’s suspension still stands as the executive committee rejected the appeals committee’s decision to rescind Mrs Wilson’s and BUT treasurer Lorraine Knowles’ suspensions.

This was officially communicated to Mrs Wilson in a letter that was handed to her shortly after the appeals committee’s decision.

They said should Mrs Wilson return to the BUT’s offices tomorrow, police would be called to escort her from the premises. In addition, Mr Musgrove said the executive committee undertook an intensive probe of the BUT’s operations in which they “unearthed” several other infractions that they claim was committed by Mrs Wilson.

At one point yesterday, Mr Lightbourne blocked the doorway to prevent Mrs Wilson and her supporters entering the union’s building.

He said: “It is very unfortunate that the president would sit behind the desk and call a press conference as president of the union. She came (in), picked up the phone, and said ‘Belinda Wilson, president of the BUT.’ Even if that was the case if you were still not on suspension there is an official way to do it.

“You just don’t walk into a bank or one of the other places and say ‘I am such and such, I am this, I am that,’ because it had to come officially from the union.”

Mrs Wilson maintained yesterday that the appeals committee’s decision could only be overturned at the union’s Annual General Meeting. The AGM is expected in June this year.

When the media arrived at BUT’s headquarters, Mr Lightbourne and Mr Musgrove would not allow the press in the building. As a result Mrs Wilson’s press conference was held outside. When the media tried to enter the building after Mrs Wilson’s press conference, a security guard attempted to physically restrain a reporter. This resulted in a row with the media and BUT officials.

However, Mrs Wilson, who said she had been vindicated following the committee’s decision, told reporters that she would return to office immediately.

She said: “I thank God, I thank the appeals committee for hearing and deliberating based on the facts. I thank the thousands of members from Grand Bahama to Mayaguana, and especially in New Providence, who have sent messages, gave words of encouragement and those who fasted and prayed throughout this ordeal.

“I have been vindicated and I am prepared to continue to lead this great organisation.

“I recommit to work even harder with more passion, dedication and vigilance to ensure that the BUT remains strong.”

In response, Mr Lightbourne said the appeals committee’s deliberation process was heavily flawed. He said an ultimatum from attorneys on behalf of Mrs Wilson and Ms Knowles might have swayed the appeals committee’s decision.

Mrs Wilson and Ms Knowles were suspended in December for six and three months respectively. It came amid concerns from the union’s executive committee that more than $1.1 million from the union’s pension and savings account were wrongfully spent over a four-year period.

However, following nearly three weeks of deliberations, the appeals committee said in documents obtained by The Tribune that “it is clear from the evidence produced before the appeals committee, that in the regular operation of the union, funds from both the pension and fixed deposit accounts were utilised with the knowledge or consent of the executive committee and/or the AGM.

“Evidence has been produced to show that transfers from the fixed deposit were approved by the AGM or executive committee as letters were needed to break the fixed deposit.

“Evidence further shows that most of the money transferred was for the set- up of the Teachers Mart and the new building in Grand Bahama. All of the letters were signed by at least three executive officers,” the appeals committee said.

“There was no evidence to show that Mrs Wilson acted on her own. It was further revealed that financial reports were presented and discussed at each executive meeting and they were approved unanimously.”

The appeals committee further noted that due process was not followed in accordance with the BUT’s constitution, adding that several members of the executive committee who were invited to make submissions did not appear.

These included Mr Lightbourne and Mr Musgrove.

However, executive committee officials contend that they had several times attempted to set up meetings with the appeals committee without success.

John 9 years, 3 months ago

Money talks chile, an dem set who ca'an get dey hands on da cookie jar is be real mad .

duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago

Cookie jar aside (and there is a good amount of cookies in the BUT jar) ....... but there is a disturbing side to this saga that members should be concerned with ........

(1) Who made up this ad hoc kangaroo appeals committee?

(2) Is the Executive/SG able to run the union without the President?

(3) Can the President hold the Union hostage based on the BUT Constitution?

(4) Will this end up in the Supreme Court if an impasse continues and who will pay the bill?

(5) Are there MOE or anti Belinda operatives at work in the BUT that are sabotaging the CBA negotiations?

realfreethinker 9 years, 3 months ago

I think # 5 is what's going on

USAhelp 9 years, 3 months ago

Need to raise union dues as Wilson needs a raise

Publius 9 years, 3 months ago

I know that the country's media doesn't actually do journalism for the most part, but it would have been necessary for the edification of readers, to explain to them the constituted hierarchy and procedures of the Union and its disciplinary rules respectively, so that readers can understand what is supposed to happen, who has final say on an appeal, how an appeals body is constituted, the powers of the appeals body with respect to the executive and vice versa, and how such things apply to this case. Otherwise, readers have no way of putting context to the back and forth they are seeing and objectively making sense of it all.

peaches1988 9 years, 3 months ago

@publius...the information you seek has been stated many a times in previous stories ran about this ongoing feud with the BUT

Publius 9 years, 3 months ago

I do not seek the information. I know the information. I am speaking to the consistent trend of the lack of context when reporting on stories where context is essential for the reader to grasp the inner workings of the controversies being reported to them.

duppyVAT 9 years, 3 months ago

Can the President and/or the Treasurer provide the members today with the monthy income and expenditure of the BUT??????????

They (Prez/Treas) create bogus/vague reports for the AGM (June) and then months later, the Executive has to suspend the substantive financial officers for alleged mis-spending of protected members assets. What is the role of the AGM delegates????? ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!

This is shameful and embarrassing for public school teachers who are bound to the BUT by law.

birdiestrachan 9 years, 3 months ago

I can now understand the D grade. What a bunch. The teachers are always voting for MS> Wilson, so what ever she does with their money must be all right with them. Persons who do not know how to conduct themselves. can not teach others how to do so . ROWDY and up from the jungle ,what they seem to be about. I do respect a whole lot of them who do a good job and remain dignified.

crabman 9 years, 3 months ago

nothing like having a personal "union" bank account, All for Me Baby

proudloudandfnm 9 years, 3 months ago

Wow evidence indicates all funds were approved by the same idiots that accused her.... Sue them girl! Teach them a lesson...

Wow....

USAhelp 9 years, 3 months ago

$$$$$$$ all for me.

Observer 9 years, 3 months ago

Publius you are spot on. What/who constitute appeals committee, exec. committee or whatever, etc.etc? Teachers, of all professionals, must always reiterate a subject in total, in order to ascertain that all hearers and readers are properly informed of the entire situation.

TheMadHatter 9 years, 3 months ago

Why didn't Knowles & Lightbourne show up to one of the radio stations EVERY DAY during this appeals process and keep saying publicly that "The Appeals Committee refuses to meet with us to hear our evidence."

They should have been out there saying that every day. Inviting the Committee to come on the radio and announce the date and time that they CLAIM they invited the two of them to appear before them.

Knowles & Lightbourne should be saying now that they never got an invite - if that is true.

Also - of over a million dollars - why can't they give the media EVEN ONE EXAMPLE of one withdrawal from the pension fund - where/what it was spent on - and state clearly that that expenditure was not approved in AGM or by the executive committee.

Can't they think of EVEN ONE EXAMPLE? Come on guys - just one, please. State the date and amount of the withdrawal and state clearly that that specific withdrawal was not approved for the purpose of building the new Freeport building or whatever Wilson is claiming.

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