NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The President of the Bahamas Industrial Tribunal the Hon. Indira Demeritte-Francis said the year 2022 has been a landmark period for the Tribunal.
“The Annual Report, which we are proud to present today, is not merely a document of records, but a narrative of progress, challenge, and triumph,” the President said at the Opening of the Legal Year of the Industrial Tribunal of The Bahamas on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at Saffrey Square.
“The reported statistics speak volumes about the dedication, commitment, and efficiency of the Industrial Tribunal.”
The President explained that the Industrial Tribunal has observed an upward trajectory in the disposal of cases, indicative of its collective efforts to deliver timely and fair resolution to industrial disputes.
She said, “A significant highlight of this year\'s performance, as encapsulated in the report, is the disposal of 243 cases in this period under review.
“This achievement is particularly noteworthy, considering the complexity and varied nature of the cases we handle. But what is even more commendable is that the majority of these cases have been resolved in under a year. Speed, combined with fairness and thoroughness, is crucial in industrial dispute resolutions, and this statistic reflects our unwavering commitment to these principles.”
The President noted that in 2021, the Industrial Tribunal disposal rate of 230 cases showed a dedication to addressing its caseload.
She said, “Impressively, 2022 witnessed, as I just mentioned, this upward trajectory in case disposal and indicates a focus of the Tribunal\'s Judges, reflecting their determination to further enhance the efficiency and productivity of the Tribunal.”
The President said also in 2021, the Certificate of Referrals received from the Department of Labour stood at 324, while in 2022, this number decreased to 200.
She said it is essential to understand that this reduction was not indicative of a decline in productivity but rather a return to the norm after the heightened levels experienced during the COVID pandemic.
“During COVID, our team consistently ‘case managed’ a more significant load, handling 184 cases in 2021 as opposed to the 148 cases in 2022. Despite managing 36 fewer cases in 2022, this too was not due to reduced efficiency but again a reflection of the normalization of the workload from the Department of Labor post-COVID, which typically stands at 200 referrals annually.
“Consequently, in 2022, there were fewer files to present to the judges, impacting a higher production rate. The numbers reflect that the Industrial Tribunal has achieved continuous and steady productivity.”
The President of the Industrial Tribunal, the Hon. Indira Demeritte-Francis (centre), detailed the Tribunal\'s achievements at the Opening of the Legal Year on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at Saffrey Square. Tribunal Judges are pictured from left: Vice-President Ingrid Cooper-Brooks, Vice-President Helen Almorales-Jones, President Indira Demeritte-Francis, Vice-President Sharada Humes Ferguson, and Vice-President Rionda Godet.
(BIS Photo/Carlyle Sands)
