An illogical conclusion by Mrs. Hamilton! She really couldn't have said what I'm reading, could she? The first part of the article says: "Cleola Hamilton, questioned ...why the number of foreign nurses serving in the Bahamas increased by 25 per cent in 2012 over the figures of the previous year." Then the article goes on to say that Mrs. Hamilton then says: “This is saying that 25 per cent more foreign workers are in our institutions than Bahamian nurses Mr Speaker." That must have been a slip because the fact that there is an increase of 25% doesn't mean that there are 25% more foreign nurses than Bahamian nurses. Let's consider it. There are 100 staff positions in 2011, 96 of which are filled by Bahamian nurses and 4 of which are filled by foreign nurses. The following year, there are still 100 positions but one Bahamian nurse retires and one foreign nurse is hired. The hiring of the one foreign nurse would mean that the number of foreign nurses in 2012 increases by 25%, as four plus one now equals five. There are still more Bahamian nurses than foreign nurses. It's simple math, Honourable Member...

Lets use some realistic numbers: If there are 500 foreign nurses (which is about 20% of the nurses employed by govt.), and the numbers of foreign nurses increased by 25% that number is actually 125; a significant number. And then you have about 30 Bahamian nurses graduating per year. That is about 24 Bahamian nurses graduating from COB nursing program replacing foreign workers. To extrapolate, there are 2500 nurses employed by government, 500 foreign nurses were employed out of that number. This number increased by 125 meaning there are now 625 foreign nurses employed in total, up by 25% from last years numbers. Now, these foreign nurses are given 3 x 3yr contracts (about 10 yrs for ease of calculation), therefore, in 10 yrs, if all Bahamian nurses graduating from COB were hired by govt, that would mean 300 Bahamian nurses replaced the foreign nurses. Not hardly enough to meet the demands which is at a deficit of 325 nursing job to be filled. That is why nurses make so much overtime--there are not enough qualified Bahamian RNs. We need the foreign nurses.

I agree mynameis. The sad part is that the more some persons open their mouths, the more they show why they ought not be in the house of assembly. And to even say that the government is employing cheap labour? Is she saying that the government is paying less to foreign nurses than Bahamians. Was not this the woman who negotiated the contract for the nurses?

The reality is that our Bahamians nurses are finding better and greener pastures in the US. They are being recruited and they are leaving the Bahamas.

Just be grateful that Mrs Hamilton was not placed in Education, where her apparent National Average in Mathematics would be even more glaringly embarrassing. Praise the Good Lord that Ministry of Health allegedly refused her, that cheap foreign labour comment would have gone down really well with the nursing staff she once purported to espouse. I am reliably informed she was originally earmarked for Ministry of Labour, but threw a fit surprisingly for a Trade Union Leader. Now she is in Foreign Affairs and the xenophobia is already showing. Hopefully she will be one in a line of one term wonders

bahamain nurse have bad attitude like they are doing you a favor the foreign nurses treat you better they love their job mrs. hamilton should know this she was in charge of union our nurses alll they know about is changing shift and they walk up and down the hospital god for bid they going lunch they stay over lunch hour get it togeather care about your job love your job

After reading the story and the posts I have some querries,I dont know if anyone is willing to answer/knows the answer, if not, that's ok.

I am a Nurse in one of the other Caribbean islands seeking information; if I intend to relocate to work in another island ,The Bahamas is one of my interest.

However, I am somewhat taken aback by "the cheap labor" and hope there is no bias & discimination against "foreign nurses"?.....

What is the average salary for a Registered Nurse? Midwife in the Bahamas?

Hoping for a response....

A medical team needs a translator in the region to make the sure that the doctors understand the patient's needs. Also they need foreign nurses who can speak their native language. From what I've read in this region are few people, mostly teenagers, who know to speak <a href="http://www.simplifiedenglish.net/Benefi…">plain English</a>. So a language expert is more than necessary there and some foreign nurses.

Isn't Ms. Hamilton the former the President of the Nurses Union? If so, she should be able to answer these questions herself.