The Prison Officers Association has become the latest group to throw its support behind Jason Hayward, who is being sued by Government.

Mr Hayward, the president of the Bermuda Public Service Union, has become the subject of a government-funded defamation lawsuit over comments he allegedly made about Finance Minister Bob Richards during a paid broadcast on ZBM.

In a statement this afternoon, the Prison Officers Association said the lawsuit was a “violation of [the] oath taken by anyone appointed to ministerial duties”.

The statement continued: “It is a wrong to pursue such an action against BPSU president Mr Hayward. Mr Hayward exercised the freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

“An individual has the right to hold their own opinions and to express them freely without government interference. Human beings must be free to criticise the state without fear of prosecution. This is a most important right in a democracy.”

The Bermuda Industrial Union, the Bermuda Union of Teachers and the BPSU have all issued statements in recent days expressing their support for Mr Hayward and decrying the defamation action.