Government Catches Employers by Surprise... Again

In a page two news story in the Nassau Guardian today (January 22nd) it was reported by the Ministry of Labour that the Minimum Wages Act went into effect yesterday, Monday the 21st of January 2002, over a week and a half sooner than the expected February 1st enactment date given by the Prime Minister. The Ministry of Labour also announced that the Health and Safety at Work Bill would be enacted on the 1st of February 2002.

Where is the Process?

The preamble of The Constitution Of The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas states that our people recognize that the preservation of our Freedom will be guaranteed, among other things, by the Rule of Law. In solemn proclamation our Constitution established a Free and Democratic Sovereign Nation, creating the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

The first Article of our Constitution reads, "The Commonwealth of The Bahamas shall be a sovereign democratic State." The free and equal right of every Bahamian of legal age to elect their representative to serve as a Member of Parliament in the House of Assembly characterizes Bahamian democracy.

As representatives of the people, it is obligatory on Members of Parliament, including those M.P.'s who happen to be Ministers, to determine the will of the people. What is the process utilized by Government to determine the peoples will?

In the early part of 2000, then Minister of Labour, the Hon. Dion Foulkes announced that all parties would be asked to participate in the construction of new labour legislation through committees, town meetings and various forums to ensure that all would feel comfortable with the new laws.

What happened to those committees, town meetings and forums? The Tripartite Forum set up by the Department of Labour did not even complete its second meeting. Until the Bahamian people have true participation in the formulation of our laws, we will never truly be a Free and Democratic Sovereign Nation.

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