The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCWU) has been given the green light by the court to proceed with its nominations for elections next Tuesday May 15, 2018.
Nominations were expected on Monday May 7, however, it was put off following a court-ordered stay, by Acting Chief Justice Stephen Issacs. The dispute stemmed over the membership of David Beckford, who had planned to contend for leadership of the union.
Beckford, Don Fernander and Christopher Evans petitioned against the union for the stay, in hopes to have their membership reinstated, however. The court ruled yesterday that their status will remain the same.
The union’s General Secretary Darren Woods issued a notice yesterday advising members of the new date for nomination and election of officers, and members of the executive council.
When contacted yesterday, Beckford said, he was shocked by the ruling.
“I was catch off guard by the ruling because, we believed that things would work out in our favor,” Beckford said.
“I was suspended unjustly and I would have thought that the court would have taken all of those factors into consideration.”
Despite the loss, Beckford said he plans to continue to agitate for change within the union, and he plans to present himself for nomination on Tuesday.
BHCAWU President Nicole Martin, when contacted yesterday, told Eyewitness News, that the union will not be deterred in its election process and will continue to fight for the rights of its members.
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Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified the Acting Chief Justice as Jon Issacs. Jon Issacs currently serves as Acting President of the Court of Appeal and was sworn in to the post in 2o16.
