The Tribune

Editor, The Tribune,

I write with a heavy heart and a sense of frustration over yet another dispute involving the Government and teachers, highlighted by this morning’s article under the headline, “Court orders administration back to work, hours after students were sent home.”

The recurring problems are becoming difficult to understand. We continue to see disputes over non-payment to teachers, shortages of principals and other key staff, as well as shortages of nurses, doctors and police officers. These are not new problems, so why does it seem as though they are being treated as if they have taken the authorities by surprise?

The summer break lasted almost three months. Surely, the Government knew before the start of the new school term that there were outstanding matters that needed to be addressed. If the Government had taken a more proactive and fair approach, surely many of these issues could have been resolved before schools reopened.

Instead, we have seen discontent fester until it reaches the point where schools are closed and the matter ends up before the courts.

I make no excuses for lawlessness or for anyone failing to obey the law. However, sometimes people resort to drastic measures simply because they feel they are not being heard. The question is: what has been achieved by taking this matter to court? We are a generally law-abiding and civilised people. Surely there must be a better way of resolving these disputes than repeatedly seeking sanctuary in the courts.

The injunction obtained by the Minister of Education and the Attorney General against the Bahamas Education Managers Union (BEMU), its officers and members is understandable from a legal standpoint. However, it does not address the underlying problem. If teachers have legitimate grievances concerning money owed to them or their working conditions, those grievances must still be addressed.

The cost of living in The Bahamas is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Outstanding money can make an enormous difference to people who are already struggling to meet the basic costs of living.

I am also concerned about the wider consequences for our education system. Examination results continue to raise serious questions about the level of achievement among our students. Could some of these problems be linked to weaknesses in reading and comprehension? Are our public schools adequately equipped with comprehensive libraries? Are our children being encouraged to read regularly and develop a genuine understanding of what they read?

These are questions worth asking if we are serious about improving educational outcomes.

Perhaps it is also time to consider whether certain essential public services require greater autonomy in the management of their budgets and day-to-day needs.

I am thinking particularly of Education, the Public Hospital Authority, the Judiciary and National Security, including the Prison Service, Fire Department, Royal Bahamas Police Force and Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

Could greater financial autonomy allow these essential services to address urgent staffing, equipment and operational needs more promptly, rather than having every matter become caught up in lengthy bureaucratic or parliamentary processes?

Such an approach might help bring an end to the constant back-and-forth between government and public-sector employees over conditions, payments and other outstanding issues.

The people of The Bahamas deserve better. Our teachers deserve to be paid what they are owed, our students deserve uninterrupted schooling, and the Government has a responsibility to ensure that these recurring problems are dealt with before they become crises.

Surely, after all these years, we can find a better way.

FRANK GILBERT

Nassau

September 3, 2026