By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourn will remain in office until the union’s next election after surviving a months-long court battle by executives seeking to remove her — although a Supreme Court judge found that her suspension of two board members was unlawful.

Justice Camille Darville-Gomez delivered a verbal ruling in the bitter internal dispute on Thursday. The full written judgment is expected later.

The decision leaves Mrs Lightbourn at the helm of a union fractured by months of infighting over its leadership, finances and governance, while elections that were due this year remain outstanding.

BNU secretary general Shavonne Brennen, one of the executives suspended by Mrs Lightbourn, expressed disappointment with the outcome in correspondence obtained by The Tribune and said the judge found her not to be a credible witness.

Ms Brennen also accused Mrs Lightbourn of attacking her character during a meeting with members.

“Mrs Lightbourn is presently slandering my character to membership in her meeting,” she wrote.

Mrs Lightbourn rejected the allegation yesterday as “far from the truth”.

“I don’t do that,” she told The Tribune.

She accused Ms Brennen of doing “a very disservice to the members of this union”, but said she had not taken the attacks against her personally.

Ms Brennen declined to comment further when contacted yesterday, saying the executives would respond after receiving the written judgment.

The dispute erupted last year after Mrs Lightbourn suspended two board members over alleged breaches of the union’s constitution.

Several executives subsequently declared that Mrs Lightbourn was no longer a member of the union, changed the locks at BNU headquarters and went to court.

The suspended executives argued that the process used against them was unconstitutional. The Tribune understands Justice Darville-Gomez ruled that the suspensions were unlawful.

The executives also challenged the union’s financial management, alleging a lack of transparency and accountability. However, the judge found that the union’s treasurer had not breached certain provisions of the Industrial Relations Act.

Ms Brennen was sharply critical of the outcome.

“If this is what social justice looks like, no wonder the labour movement is sinking and what Sir Fawkes fought for is slowly fading away,” her statement said.

Attention now turns to the BNU election.

The union last held elections in January 2023 and its constitution provides for three-year terms, meaning another election was due this year.

Mrs Lightbourn said nurses had voted to hold the election in January and that the decision was given to Ms Brennen, who chaired the election committee. She alleged, however, that Ms Brennen failed to submit it to the registrar as required.

“If our secretary general would have done what she was mandated to do, we would have already had an election,” Mrs Lightbourn said.

She described the union as being in a “holdover” period and said she remains president while the organisation operates under provisions of the Industrial Relations Act.

Mrs Lightbourn said she intends to seek re-election but could not say when voting would take place.

“I’m hoping the sooner, the better,” she said.

She also rejected allegations that she stole nearly $50,000 in union funds and that the money was connected to a robbery she experienced last year.

The Tribune previously reported that Mrs Lightbourn was robbed in her vehicle in Chippingham in January when a man opened a door and took items from the back seat, including her laptop and handbag.

Police later recovered the laptop and bag, but her purse, containing cash and government-issued identification, remained missing.

Mrs Lightbourn said union members recently contacted her about allegations that some executives were accusing her of stealing nearly $50,000. She denied ever having the money in her possession and questioned whether the robbery had been a set-up.

She said she called a meeting with nurses to address the claims after being bombarded with calls, but alleged that false rumours continued to circulate on social media.

Despite the turmoil, Mrs Lightbourn said she intends to remain in office and continue representing nurses pending the election.

“They elected me to serve them,” she said. “I will do it.”

She said the union’s disputes may have caused delays but would not stop its work.

“We cannot be defeated,” Mrs Lightbourn said. “I want us to work together, so we can get things done in fairness.”