The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS have declined to disclose the financial value of a new five-year industrial agreement covering 237 employees of the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority, despite confirming that workers will receive several new benefits, including hazard pay and paternity leave.

The agreement, signed yesterday between the Authority and the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU), is the first industrial agreement for the Authority's employees and took effect on January 1, 2026.

BCPOU president Sherry Benjamin said the union was reluctant to reveal the financial compensation included in the agreement because of concerns about the safety of its members, many of whom work outdoors.

Ms Benjamin said the agreement introduces several benefits and employment protections that workers did not previously enjoy, including hazard pay, maternity and paternity benefits, with paternity leave newly introduced for male employees.

The agreement also establishes clearer procedures for handling employee grievances, providing a formal structure for addressing workplace concerns.

Ms Benjamin described the signing as a historic achievement for the union and the Authority's workforce, noting that it would govern employees' terms and conditions of employment over the next five years.

“We did not get everything that we wanted, but we are happy with what we did get, and we are looking forward to the continued relationship with the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority,” she said.

She said the negotiations began late last year, after the union received recognition to represent the Authority's employees in 2024. Although the parties had reached an understanding on the financial package earlier in the year, Ms Benjamin said the process took longer than expected to complete.

She described the delay as disheartening, arguing that the agreement could have been finalised much earlier and allowed employees to benefit sooner. However, she credited the intervention of newly appointed Executive Chairman Jamahl Strachan with helping to bring the negotiations to a conclusion.

Mr Strachan said the agreement establishes clear responsibilities for the Authority and reinforces the importance of collective bargaining, meaningful consultation and fair treatment of employees.

“As the Authority modernises its operations, we must equip our workforce to meet those demands and recognise the experience and ability already within our ranks,” he said.

He added that employees should have opportunities for advancement within the organisation and that the authority must demonstrate the same commitment to excellence in how it manages and develops its workforce.

The signing comes as the Authority continues its efforts to improve public parks and recreational spaces across the country. Mr Strachan said the authority had already completed restoration work at five parks, despite the initial plan being to begin the programme in September. He said a further five parks were expected to bring the total to 10 during the first quarter.

He said the work was being funded through the authority's overall budget of approximately $32m, rather than a separate allocation for the restoration programme.

Mr Strachan also confirmed that the authority's audit had been completed and said the documents would be tabled in their entirety “in due course”.