Fire and Ambulance members say they requested mediator, not PM, will confer and indicate choice

GREAT BAY--The members of the Fire and Ambulance Department on Thursday refuted the statements released by the Cabinet of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, which claim that the Prime Minister proposed a mediator to their union, while they in fact requested the appointment of a neutral mediator.

They thanked the Prime Minister for his prompt response and for submitting a list of 4 proposed candidates to serve as mediator. However, the Union once again stressed the need for transparency and honesty throughout this process. The members will confer and indicate their mediator of choice.

"It must be noted that when the Prime Minister was advised by his colleagues to turn the matter over to a mediator, he refused. Yet, the latest narrative from his Cabinet now claims that he is proposing a mediator, a statement that is both inaccurate and misleading."

They said "this misleading statement perfectly illustrates why the Union has repeatedly demanded a signed commitment letter, as truth continues to be a distant friend of this Cabinet. Following a live press conference on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Union submitted a letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the members of the Fire Department. This letter reiterated that the members are tired of the ongoing back and forth and once again requested the appointment of a neutral mediator, as was previously agreed upon on April 29, 2025."

Furthermore, they continued, the press release issued on behalf of the Prime Minister contained information that was never discussed with either the members or the Union. "Anyone reading that release would be led to believe that a roundtable discussion had taken place, which is false. While a letter was indeed sent to the Union President, the details reflected in the Prime Minister’s press release do not match the contents of that correspondence."

"It is also important to clarify that nowhere in the letter to the Union President were there any statements indicating non-disclosure of the proposed mediators. The attempt to create such a narrative is misleading and adds unnecessary tension to an already delicate process. This constant distortion of facts has become tiring and deeply disappointing, particularly when coming from individuals in positions of leadership."

The members said that the lack of honesty and transparency is precisely what has brought this situation to its current impasse. "Even as the parties move toward mediation, misleading information continues to circulate. The members of the Fire and Ambulance Department remain committed to constructive dialogue and to finding a fair and lasting resolution in the interest of all parties involved. Going forward, there will be no further communication to the media on this matter until it has been resolved."

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