Nurses - A Path to Wrath?

And indeed, when we get this kind of information, it only serves to underscore our oft-stated conclusion that today’s Bahamas is a cruel, hard-edged and increasingly brutal place – a place where naked individualism and cold cash conspire to torture and torment an entire people.

Today we send out a cry for help for some of the nurses and other auxiliary staff at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre. These people are hurting. Compounding the matter is that some of these people have been so cowered by legitimate authority in that institution that they dare not cry out for help – for fear of further and more deliberate victimization.

Here take note that, "out of sight, out of mind" quite neatly explains how it arises that most Bahamians know little and could care less about the fate of their fellow-Bahamians who just happen to be patients at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

And for sure, most Bahamians know little and could care less about the fact that Bahamian nurses, a handful of doctors and some other health-care workers routinely go above and beyond the call of duty; this in order to take care of their patients.

We heard one of their spokesmen; thus today’s cry and commentary.

Indeed, information reaching us suggests that a crisis is brewing at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.

We are also privy to information suggesting that some of hardest work and often least appreciated workers are being subjected to threats, some of them aimed at depriving them of money they have earned.

Making the matter even worse happens to be the proposal that the said pay-cuts would be retroactive.

Compounding the matter is a view to the effect that those who are making the threat have no real understanding of the dynamics on the ground – so to speak – where workers routinely share routines, work as a team – and are in truth and in fact getting the job done.

Indeed, when we heard this version of the reality at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, we were – yet again – affirmed our faith in the inherent goodness of mankind.

Indeed, when we got our fair share of descriptions of some of the challenges imposed on workers in that institution, we were left utterly convinced that these workers deserved more rather than less money for their yeoman’s work.

But life in this time and in this place – being what they are – some of these workers are being threatened.

So today we take note – albeit with some sadness – of an inter-office memorandum [Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre]. This notice concerns proposed salary cuts – late arrivals & early departures.

As the memo advises: It has been observed that punctuality is becoming a recurrent problem and in this regard the institution has embarked on an initiative to combat tardiness.

The memo goes on to advise: "With this in mind, you are advised that the Payroll’s Department has been instructed to resume salary cuts for the late arrivals and early departures from the month of March 2009 which will be reflected on the May 2009 pay sheet. Additionally, pay cuts for April and beyond will be forthcoming.

The memorandum continues: "Please be reminded that it is your responsibility to ensure that you work the required amount of hours..."

And in quite an ominous tone, the memo ends on this salutary note: "Submitted for your URGENT attention…"

While the memo does come with a signature, we opt not to publish it at this time.

Here take note that we choose this route out of propriety and in search of peace.

Were we asked for our advice – albeit unsolicited – it would be to the effect that all parties concerned should [with the able assistance of the Hospitals Authority, staff and workers at Sandilands, the Christian Council – and the Unions should work for the achievement of a species of peace that comes mingled through and through with justice.

Interestingly, the memo in question comes laden with a seed that suggests one road to both compromise and peace. That germ of an idea is to be found in the expression, "…ensure that you work the required amount of hours…"

Here we presume that those in charge understand that – in the ultimate analysis – what matters most is the level of care received by the patients. Here these people might be well-advised to take note of achievement by teams of people, rather than by watching this or that clock.

Here we would also mention that those who now ‘run things’ in that institution would be well-advised to take note of the fact that some of the nurses who are now being threatened are poor, hard-working people who need every penny that comes their way.

Put otherwise, we warn any and all who would push these hard-working people in the direction of wrath.