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Over a hundred Bahamian public servants, including members of the Bahamas Public Services Union and the Bahamas Union of Teachers, staged a protest march to the House of Assembly yesterday, demanding delayed or omitted salary increases. The demonstrators, chanting ‘we want our money right now,’ pressed against police barricades before Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis emerged to assure them they would be paid before Christmas. The protest highlighted growing frustrations over disparities in pay between senior administrative officers and lower-level staff, unresolved promotions, unpaid overtime, and hazard pay. Union leaders urged calm as they sought entry to Parliament, eventually being allowed into the gallery. Prime Minister Davis joined them outside, reiterating his commitment to resolving the issue by Christmas and promising a meeting by Monday. The government had previously announced that workers excluded from earlier adjustments would receive at least two increments in December, retroactive to September 1, 2025, with varying amounts by category. Officials noted that the move aims to narrow gaps between public service pay and the wider public sector, with base-pay gains of 8 to 31 percent over four years. Union leaders, however, criticized the lack of clarity and transparency, with Mrs. Wilson emphasizing the need for clear information on salary increases and Mr. Ferguson accusing officials of delaying raises for aviation staff since 2019. Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle stated that payment mechanics lie with the Ministry of Finance, while her ministry has made ‘significant progress’ on legacy issues. She also noted that the December timeline was set due to the complexity of the review. Among the protesters, frustration was palpable, with individuals like Angela Dames expressing personal financial strain due to the delays. BPSU vice-president Debra Foulke criticized the Prime Minister’s address as ‘weak,’ while others like Jessie Vincent and Patrice Johnson shared their long-standing grievances over unresolved promotions and delayed payments.

The Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) has expressed deep frustration over the government’s decision to revoke its authority to manage the annual Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades. This move, described as profoundly unfair, is projected to result in nearly $1 million in losses and damages for the organization. In a strongly worded letter to Youth, Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg, JCNP Chairman Dion Miller highlighted the severe financial and operational repercussions of the decision. The corporation estimates losses of $747,000, including unpaid sponsorship fees from ALIV and Commonwealth Brewery, as well as $57,000 recently invested in upgrading its scoring system. The abrupt shift in control has also jeopardized long-standing sponsorship agreements and undermined years of collaboration between the JCNP and the government. Miller issued a seven-day ultimatum for the ministry to reverse its decision, warning that failure to do so would compel the JCNP to organize its own private parades in 2025 and 2026. This could lead to a historic showdown, with four separate Junkanoo parades instead of the traditional two, as major groups like the Saxons, One Family, and Roots rally under the JCNP’s banner. The Valley Boys, a prominent Junkanoo group, have split their support, with one faction backing the JCNP and the other aligning with the government. Corporate sponsors have reportedly advised that private parades are the only viable option to avoid breaching existing contracts if the ministry persists with its decision. Miller emphasized that the government provides no direct funding to the JCNP, leaving the organization financially vulnerable. Despite the escalating tensions, the JCNP remains committed to preserving Junkanoo as a cornerstone of Bahamian culture, striving to ensure its celebration reflects fairness and excellence. The corporation also criticized the ministry for allegedly abandoning a prior agreement reached during a September 9 meeting attended by key government officials, including Minister Bowleg and Attorney General Ryan Pinder. The JCNP dismissed a ministry-cited poll as unrepresentative, claiming that longstanding Junkanoo groups were excluded from the process. Miller concluded by urging the ministry not to obstruct its efforts to host private parades, invoking Minister Bowleg’s own statement that private parades are permissible in a free country.