Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis has expressed disappointment over industrial action taken by public healthcare nurses amid a dispute over unpaid overtime.
“You know, it’s disappointing. When I think of this government, this administration, and me in particular, recognising the value of nurses, recognising the sacrifices they make, and also recognising the fact that we are under siege by other jurisdictions to lure them away from their home jurisdiction,” Davis told reporters.
The overtime dispute intensified last week following an internal memo issued by the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) on January 14. The memo advised staff that all overtime payments, effective from the January 2026 pay period, would require approval from the managing director’s office before being processed. Just over US$2 million is owed to nurses.
Union leaders have argued that the directive effectively blocked overtime payments and showed a lack of respect for healthcare workers already strained by staff shortages.
Davis said the overtime issue only recently came to his attention and that once informed, the government moved quickly to address it.
“Within that time, we made the arrangements to pay them,” he said, adding that it was unfortunate nurses reacted the way they did and that they should trust him and his administration.
PHA Deputy Financial Controller Ryan Bastian, who authored the memo, said the measure was necessary because the overtime budget had been exhausted as far back as September 2025.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville questioned why the government had not been informed sooner that the PHA had run out of overtime funds, suggesting a breakdown in communication. He described the delay in payments as severe and said meetings have been held with PHA officials to resolve the issue.
Last Friday, Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) President Muriel Lightbourne said public health nurses are “fed up and tired of being disrespected.”
“They (nurses) don’t trust PHA simply because they’ve been promising to do things and have not yet done it,” she said.
Authorities have also raised concerns about nurses leaving the country in search of better opportunities due to low wages. Both Lightbourne and Bahamas Public Service Union President Kimsley Ferguson have urged members not to work beyond their scheduled shifts until outstanding payments are made.
“The nurses’ resolve is that until they get their money, they will not go to work. That’s the resolve,” Lightbourne said.
