Police to sweep WSC for hidden cameras

Police to sweep WSC for hidden cameras
Labour Director, John Pinder.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In response to the union’s concerns about reports of hidden cameras and other listening devices strategically placed around the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC), executive management has agreed for authorities to visit the facility to sweep for hidden wireless devices, according to Director of Labour John Pinder.

Pinder met with WSC Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson and the executive of the Bahamas Utilities Services and Allied Workers Union (BUSAWU) at the corporation yesterday to discuss the way forward following the union’s standoff over the suspension of two employees and other labour matters.

Speaking to Eyewitness News Online, Pinder said, “The union had accused the corporation of having hidden cameras and recording devices that they were not aware of.

“They asked for the corporation to allow the police to [do a] sweep.

“The chairman has agreed for the police to come and do a sweep anytime they want to.”

Asked when authorities plan to conduct the sweep of the corporation, Pinder said the exact date had not been determined.

“I told the union the chairman has agreed for them to — whenever they want to do it — he has agreed to it,” Pinder said.

Last Tuesday, BUSAWU President Dwayne Woods called on WSC Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson and General Manager Elwood Donaldson to be removed, citing concerns from the suspensions of unions members to the process of promotions at the corporation.

Woods claimed that “friends, family and lovers” at the corporation have been promoted over those who have worked hard and deserve it.

He also charged that union members were being disproportionately penalized.

The union instructed its members to withdraw their “enthusiasm”, but were seen sitting down on the lawn of the corporation well into the afternoon.

Around 11 p.m. Tuesday, water supply across the majority of New Providence was cut off.

Both hospitals were impacted by the loss of water.

Addressing Parliament last Wednesday, Gibson said the interruption to the utility was a “malicious act of sabotage, criminality and a sick effort to terrorize and inflict hardship upon Bahamians”.

The union has denied the allegations.

Both sides met last Wednesday and union members returned to work on Thursday.

Pinder said that was a show of good faith, but pointed out that according to the industrial agreement, abandoning a post for four days warrants automatic dismissal.

 

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.