Prison officers’ association collapses

Just over a month after the High Court restored the right of prison officers to join trade unions, the Prison Officers’ Association of Barbados (POAB) has collapsed.

Several executive officers revealed on Wednesday that the organisation no longer exists at the Dodds Prison, and president Trevor Browne told Barbados TODAY he will formally “wrap it up sometime next week”.

In early April, Justice Cecil McCarthy struck down as “unconstitutional”, Sections 23 and 24 of the Prison Amendment Act of 1982. He found that the “substantial intent” of the amendment act was to significantly restrict prison officers’ freedom of association enshrined in Section 21(1) of the Constitution.

Browne was of the view that prison officers should form their own trade union, and keep the business of the jail inside the institution, instead of them joining an external union.

Several prison officers who disagreed with creating their own trade union have already joined the Unity Workers Union (UWU) led by Caswell Franklyn who for many years served as a consultant to the association.

According to the Prison Act, the purpose of the Prison Officers’ Association is to enable prison officers to bring to the attention of the Superintendent, the Board and the Minister, matters affecting the welfare and efficiency of prison officers.

The association was established in 1982 by an act of Parliament.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb