The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers Acting President Zane Lightbourne yesterday said the union takes “grave exception” to certain media outlets that allow suspended BUT President Belinda Wilson “speak on behalf of the union”.

Mr Lightbourne said as a “suspended officer,” Mrs Wilson has “no power” within the BUT and as such should not be given any “credence” by the media if and when she seeks to make public pronouncements on behalf of or in reference to the BUT and its internal affairs. To that end, Mr Lightbourne also said there is “no back and forth” between the union’s executive committee and Mrs Wilson’s prospective leadership team.

Mr Lightbourne’s comments come after recent public statements by Mrs Wilson in reference to the union’s upcoming elections, which she had recently sought an injunction against so that her name, along with two others, can be put on the ballot.

In one televised report last week, Mrs Wilson called for “all of our members” throughout the country to “come out and vote for the other 11 candidates that we have that’s on the ‘A-Team,’” the name for the group of individuals that make up her prospective leadership team.

“As a suspended person or suspended officer, Mrs Wilson has no power within the Bahamas Union of Teachers,” he said.

“And for the media or any source to give credence to her or to allow her to speak on behalf of the union or as an official word as to what is happening to the union, the BUT takes grave exception to that. We want the facts to be known.

“As an organisation we have integrity, we have character and we have a responsibility as a credible organisation that is sanctioned by the Bahamas government and Labour Department.”

Meanwhile, BUT Secretary General John Musgrove said a forensic audit of the union’s Grand Bahama building completed by Baker Tilly International has revealed a number of alleged “overpayments” in connection with the construction of the BUT’s $1.3m building in Grand Bahama.

He said the union’s executive committee is “committed” to retrieving “all outstanding funds.”

“The acting treasurer’s report will be presented at the 69th (annual general meeting) to highlight additional internal audit findings of grave concern,” Mr Musgrove said. “Members can be assured that the executive committee is mandated and committed to doing all in its powers to uphold the objects of the union and ‘protect the organisation from extravagance and misappropriation.’”

In 2014, Mrs Wilson and BUT Treasurer Lorraine Knowles were suspended amid allegations from the union’s executive committee that more than $1.1m from the union’s pension and savings account was wrongfully spent.

In January 2015, Mrs Wilson had her suspension overturned by a three member appeals committee, who said it found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the president as was alleged. In March of that year, however, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Knowles were again served with another suspension for “blatant violations” of the union’s constitution.

Mrs Wilson was later suspended “indefinitely” pending the results of a police investigation into alleged violations of union procedures.

The BUT will hold its election on June 9.