Just a day after law enforcement officers promised to take a strike poll if they didn’t hear from the prime minister, the nation’s chief broke his silence and said he would give the officers what they wanted.

On Monday, representatives from the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) said they would have to take their industrial action to the next level and strike if their medical insurance was not re-instated.

Speaking with reporters outside the cabinet offers yesterday Prime Minister Perry Christie said, although he thinks the new medical plan he gave law enforcement officers last month is better than their old one, he will grant them their wish of having the old Colina medical insurance back.

“I’m always saddened by the lack of consultation,” he said.

“I have indicated to the Minister for Public Service Shane Gibson that notwithstanding the fact that I am advised that there is a superior package, I have no difficulty whatsoever of being able to give them what they had.”

Under the new insurance plan children with special needs would receive more coverage.

However, BCIAWU Vice-President Sloan Smith said while that change is good, the case is very rare.

He also said that they would not be willing to meet with Mr. Christie, unless he was meeting to tell them their insurance was placed back.

In response to that, the prime minister agreed that he didn’t need to meet with them to fix the problem.

“I’m the prime minister. There are ministers who are responsible in the Ministry of Finance,” he said.

“I agree that they don’t have to meet with me to put the old plan back. It’s just a matter of time.”

Mr. Christie said he isn’t sure when the plan would be put back because there is a process that needs to be followed.
Once that process is carried out, he said they should have their plan re-instated.

Hearing the news, Mr. Smith said he would not call of strike plans just yet.

“I deal with birds in the hand,” he said.

“Our body as an entity, we deal with the bird in the hand. What they are discussing allegedly is two in the bush. Once they give the deal to us in our hands, our attorneys will look at it and we will discuss it amongst ourselves. If it is the same thing and we haven’t lost anything, then we stop what we’re planning.”

Mr. Smith added that until that resolution is reached and the dotted line has been signed, plans for strike action are still on.