Prime Minister Philip Davis took aim at the Free National Movement (FNM) for criticizing the engagement of nearly 500 retirees in the public service, defending the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government’s actions as transparent and in the best interest of the country. Speaking at a branch meeting in Golden Gates, Davis strongly rejected the opposition’s stance and highlighted that the FNM, during its time in power, had similarly rehired retirees.
"She isn’t afraid to tell it to you straight. Just last week, Pia stood up in the House and gave a clear and transparent answer about the amount of pensioners who have been rehired in government," Davis said, referencing PLP's Minister Pia Glover-Rolle. “We are the first government who has addressed this issue by providing the facts. Pia told Parliament, and the Bahamian people, the truth, even though that truth was controversial.”
The Prime Minister went on to criticize the FNM’s response to the rehiring of retirees, particularly their failure to acknowledge similar practices during their own time in government. "The way they carried on, you’d think the FNM didn’t understand why and when it makes sense to hire some retired public servants," Davis remarked. "In fact, you’d think they had never hired any themselves. But they did. And we have the public service records to prove it."
He emphasized that the current government has been open and transparent about the issue, providing the Bahamian people with the facts, something he claims was lacking during the FNM’s time in office. “This is an old issue. What’s new is that we are providing the facts,” he stated.
Davis further defended the PLP’s actions, explaining that the rehiring of retirees has been kept to under 2% of the public service. He pointed out that nearly half of those rehired are police officers, underscoring the importance of their experience in the ongoing fight against crime.
"Considering the challenges we face with crime, I don’t imagine there are too many Bahamians who would disagree that seasoned and skilled officers can offer important support to our police force, especially as they work to carry out new reforms," he said.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the value of experienced officers, some of whom had already given 30 years of service but still had much to offer, including mentoring new recruits. "We value the expertise of our most experienced, well-trained, and well-educated officers," Davis concluded.
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