The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE revelation that the prestigious and highly responsible post of Presi- dent of the university is not pensionable is at once amazingly surprising and utterly astounding!

For, according to his own word, the incumbent, Dr Smith, has stated that he will not seek the renewal of his contract when it expires in 2022 precisely because there is no provision for a pension.

What? Do you mean to tell me this highly edu- cated, experienced and competent “Son of the Bahamian Soil”, who having presided over the transition of our premier institution from collegiate to university status, would, at age seventy have to seek employment abroad simply because no pen- sion is provided so that he may retire with dignity and decorum in his home- land? Must this not be a matter of grave concern to all Bahamians? Surely it merits the most urgent consideration of “the powers that be!”

As I re ected pro- foundly on this situation, I could not help remember- ing how a close relative, many years ago, was in one like it. You see, my dearlybelovedcousin,the lateLillianWeir-Coakley, gave many years of ser- vice to our young nation as the Librarian at the Southern Public Library. When in the year 1948 she graduated from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, with her Bach- elor’s Degree in Sociology, I daresay that you could count on your ngers the number of Bahamians who had earned academic degrees! With such an edu- cational background, she could have easily obtained

a prestigious and lucrative post at a tertiary educa- tional institute abroad. Instead, she elected to return here “to serve her Bahamian people,” for she was very patriotic.

Hers was no “nine to ve” job, as she stayed at the Library “often going beyond the call of duty.” You see, in those days, before the most excellent Sir Cecil Wallace-Whit- eld, then a young dynamic statesman, took the initiative “in electri- fying the community of over-the-hill, students who couldn’t do homework at home “because they had no light,” would study at the Library until it closed at 9pm. Mrs Coakley stayed at the Library until they went home. Many prominent citizens of our beloved Bahamaland, including The Hon Ally- son Maynard-Gibson, The Hon Alfred Sears and Ms Rosalie Fawkes, veteran educator, greatly bene t- ted from her disciplined supervision. Yes, she toiled long and hard imparting knowledge to her fellow Bahamians.

But alas! When the timedrewnighforherto retire,itbecameapparent that there was no provi- sion for a pension for her. Yes, teachers, police- men, customs of cers and prison wardens were all pensionable; but nothing for librarians. Eventually, largely as a result of “the lobbying” and in uence of Dr Cleveland Eneas, spe- cial legislation was passed in the House of Assem- bly making the of ce of Librarian pensionable as it is today! After her passing, the Southern

Public Library, where she served so many years, was renamed “The Lillian Weir-Coakley Library” in recognition of the contri- bution to the development of Library Services in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

It is submitted that a similar course of action is appropriate in the case of the President of the Uni- versity of the Bahamas. For it is ultra vires the fundamental principles of social justice to allow anyone who has occupied a high and prestigious of ce to descend after demit- ting of ce into a state of “struggle to make ends meet!” Isn’t this precisely why we (the Bahamian tax payers) provide an annual allowance of $70,000 (seventy thousand dol- lars) plus “perks” to the person who has served in the highest ceremonial of ce of Governor-Gen- eral of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas upon retirement? (See also II Kings 25:27-30) where the Babylonians, Israel’s arch enemies, procured a daily allowance for the dethroned King of Israel and permitted him to dine at the King’s table.

With regard to the amount of the president’s pension, it is germane to observe that economists now estimate that one needs about 75% of salary earned in order to retire with “dignity” in addi- tion, there are often other “perks” to be provided at the discretion of the council.

Taking all factors into consideration, this is a matter which requires urgent and decisive action.

JOSEPH E WEIR, OM

Freeport, Grand Bahama. March 6, 2021.