Members of Team Destiny – a group seeking to lead The Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) claimed that they were blocked from participating in the nomination process for the union’s upcoming elections.
The members alleged that when several of its candidates attempted to nominate for their respective positions they were told that they were ineligible to participate because their membership with the union was not current.
“This is another attempt by [Nicole] Martin and the current administration to block us from participating because they are scared of what will happen,” said Dave Beckford, leader of Team Destiny. “This administration has continuously ignored the needs of its members and failed to meet their interests.”
Teams Destiny and Revolution are the two camps challenging incumbent A-Team in the upcoming election.
“There is a need for proper representation in the union and the current administration has failed to provide that leadership,” said Valderine Small, who is vying for first vice president under Destiny. “The executive council of the BHCAWU should know that they are not our employers but rather they are our employees. They are here to serve the members of the union.”
Mr. Beckford along with Carol Thompson who attempted to nominate for treasurer and Don Fernander who is seeking the nomination for trustee are the three members of Destiny who claim they were denied nominations.
However, Mr. Beckford provided a letter stating that he was a current member and he suggested that if he and his members are not allowed to nominate they would take the matter to court.
“We are not prepared to stand by and watch the rights of members be stepped on by the unruly tactics of the current administration,” he said. “While going to court is not the route we wished to take, we will do so if we have to.”
The elections are scheduled for May 5, but Destiny says it while file an injunction to stop the vote if its members are blocked from nominating.
The Bahama Journal reached out to the executive council of the BHCAWU for comment but those calls went unanswered.
