The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday rejected a union’s claim that a long-running insurance dispute involving customs and immigration officers had reached an impasse, while acknowledging that a “misapplication of some payments” had resulted in some people being denied service earlier this year.

Mr Mitchell said he had believed the insurance difficulties were resolved during the broader disruption to public-sector coverage in July, when Colina suspended benefits under affected government plans from July 3.

He did not make clear whether the payment problem he described was connected to the difficulties the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union says its members have experienced since late October 2025.

“What I understand is there was a misapplication of some payments that resulted in some people being denied service,” Mr Mitchell said. “But the matter has now been resolved.”

The union, however, said officers have had difficulty accessing “certain components” of their insurance policy since late October, with some being denied services or forced to pay out of pocket.

It said it had sought clarity since December 2025 through emails, letters and telephone calls, but claimed the Ministry of Public Service had not provided a substantive response.

The union said the heads of Customs and Immigration had no information beyond receiving notice of the suspension.

Mr Mitchell said he was surprised when the union released a statement declaring an “impasse” over the issue.

He said he and Minister of State for Immigration Darron Pickstock have since spoken with BCIAWU president Deron Brooks and assured him that the matter was being looked at.

Mr Mitchell said he also spoke with the minister responsible for the public service and was advised that “there was no general denial of benefits”.

He encouraged officers who remain affected to come forward.

Mr Pickstock also rejected the suggestion that officers were experiencing widespread difficulties.

“To this extent that there are individual issues, then we can look at it,” Mr Pickstock said. “But there’s no widespread denial.”

The dispute follows the wider public-sector insurance disruption in July, when Colina suspended benefits under affected government plans.

The Office of the Prime Minister described the suspension at the time as a temporary administrative matter and later said insurance services had resumed.

Mr Mitchell said he had believed the Customs and Immigration concerns were resolved as part of that episode.

In a voice note issued earlier yesterday, however, Mr Mitchell described a “regrettable decision” to deny coverage to some individuals and said the problem had been “largely” resolved.

Asked whether the matter remained at an impasse, Mr Mitchell rejected that characterisation, saying the Immigration ministry first learned of the continuing complaints when the union issued its public statement.

He acknowledged, however, that the union said it had been dealing with the Ministry of Public Service.

Mr Mitchell also disclosed that changes to public-sector insurance arrangements were being developed largely through the Ministry of Finance.

“There’s a new product which is being developed, which we hope will make the whole insurance process more seamless and more comprehensive,” Mr Mitchell said. “That’s being worked on by the government, and the stakeholders will be involved in its development.”

The latest dispute is separate from a longstanding disagreement over dependent coverage for newly hired officers.

The union previously alleged that insurance arrangements for newly hired officers were changed without its agreement in April 2023, effective July 2023, leaving affected officers responsible for the cost of insuring their dependants.

It later filed legal action alleging that the change breached its industrial agreement.

Mr Mitchell declined to discuss that dispute, saying the dependent-coverage issue may be the subject of a trade dispute and was therefore potentially a legal matter.