Moontown

Government will meet with national stakeholders to address the scourge of child molestation in wake of recent developments, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon announced yesterday.

While not making direct reference to recent charges of child molestation brought against JFAP leader Chandra Narine Sharma, Luncheon told the media that due to the recent developments Cabinet in seeking to “mobilise popular sentiment” to address what he dubbed the “social scourge.”

This is the first time government has made a move in this direction to deal specifically with sexual molestation of children, although it recently enacted landmark sexual offences laws.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Luncheon said the Cabinet undertook to consult with social partners and non-governmental organisations on dealing with perpetrators and victims and promoting prevention of child molestation. He said that initially Cabinet will focus on the religious community, where much support already exists.

Tolerance for child molestation and paedophilia… must find no home [nor] no peace in Guyana and must have no excuse for its         continued [re-occurrence],” Luncheon said. “So often it is parlayed as indicative of the Guyanese society which of course we do not concede but that argument continues to be made… We are totally dissatisfied with that analysis and we reject the high incidence and prevalence that is reported and also that may very well be not reported,” he emphasised. Luncheon said while interventions would be part of the administration’s focus, it would not attempt to “rule the roost” in that area. However, he said the administration is aware that to be “effective” as is possible there is need for the “sentiment of rejection” prevalent in the majority of the citizenry to be whipped up to a fervour and to send the message to those who are perpetrating, those who are benefiting and those who are defending such behaviour.

Luncheon noted that many excuses have been put forward to justify molestation and to question and cast asperations about the government’s resolve to counter the situation. “I think one can recognise that we are grossly unhappy with the current situation in terms of incidents and prevalence, its manifestations but at the same time the interventions, institutional, legislation and mass mobilisation among social partners and the responsiveness of the Guyanese people, I think it augers well for our efforts and for our future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Luncheon said there is a “big overlap” when it comes to child molestation and domestic violence and it is the same organisations that speak out against the two social ills. He mentioned that the administration last year met with stakeholders and pledged $15M as an “opening offer” to religious communities to, among other things, establish facilities to house victims. He said one organisation in Region 6 has applied for and gotten Cabinet’s approval to establish such a facility. Luncheon added that the government believes that as it continues in the thrust in mobilising, more such facilities would be established.

Asked whether the virtual “slap on the wrist” given to police surgeon Dr Mahendra Chand sends the wrong signal, given the government’s zero tolerance stand on child molestation, Luncheon said the situations cannot be compared. Chand had treated a teen boy tortured by police officers with a bag over his face last year. “I don’t believe that the aspect of the child, the minor and the incident in Region Three when the child was tortured fits readily and easily into this spectrum that we are speaking of. It is not the same. It is not the same. This one here is child sexual molestation, this other one here is about policemen involved in abuse of the use of force in dealing with criminal matters. Different matters in a very tenuous way; the only thread that we would concede is that it involves minors in both cases,” he said. “What happened with the policemen and the abuse of force cannot by any stretch of imagination assume an incidence and prevalence comparable to what sexual molestation of children proves at this point,” he added. (Stabroek News)

Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni (left), head of the European Union delegation in Jamaica, gives an ear to Member of Parliament Derrick Smith during the official handover of a classroom-expansion project at the Maverley Primary and Junior High School in St Andrew last week. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

THE DELEGATION of European Union (EU) has signalled that it plans to tack on another year to extend its three-year grant-aid budget-support arrangements with Jamaica into a fourth year.

Head of the delegation of the European Commission to Jamaica, Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, told The Sunday Gleaner that his office plans to inject an additional $9.5 billion in the budget-support programme in 2010 and a similar amount in the proposed fourth year.

At the same time, Ambassador Mazzocchi Alemanni was highly critical of aspects of Jamaica’s economic management, particularly the treatment of government bonds, which up to a few months ago yielded high dividends.

The European community today commemorates EU Day to highlight its contribution to the development of nations across the globe as well as other accomplishments.

“I would say that since we are in Jamaica, key focus is on the IMF,” asserted the outspoken ambassador in an interview with The Sunday Gleaner.

“The budget-support programme is trying to help Jamaica live within its means,” he declared.

“A proud country like Jamaica must be the master of its future.”

The ambassador was caustic in his criticism of the heavy reliance on high interest rate government papers that he contended has fattened one section of society while starving the Budget of much-needed funds to enable the Government to carry out critical functions.

‘Perverse mechanism’

“The programme is trying to undo this perverse mechanism such as the mechanism you used to have on government paper … that was a very perverse mechanism where you have a whole chunk of the Jamaican society sitting on their verandas and just cashing in those dividends, huge dividends,” he declared.

“If I had some money three years ago when I came to Jamaica, I say I would buy Jamaican bonds,” Mazzocchi Alemanni quipped.

“When you have 20 to 25 per cent dividends on these papers, even if you think the Jamaican dollar is going to devalue by 80 per cent, you can make money,” the EU ambassador argued.

“Who was getting 10 per cent three years ago?” he asked rhetorically. “No one in the world, so you have one section of Jamaican society that is actually living off the other section because they were getting usury dividends and because of that, the Jamaican budget was so overloaded that there was no money left for investment.

He told The Sunday Gleaner that while the focus on the EU delegation is on Jamaica’s economic woes, on this EU day, on the European side, the preoccupation is on the financial crisis in Greece.

“There are even calls for Greece to copy Jamaica’s debt exchange programme,” Mazzocchi Alemanni said.

Greece has also sought the IMF assistance to help it out of its economic bind.

Unproductive living

Mazzocchi Alemanni suggested that for too long, Jamaica had lived unproductively above its means, supported an unhealthy reliance on high interest-rate bearing government paper.

“The reliance on government paper is a very perverse mechanism,” he asserted.

The EU ambassador emphatically endorsed the Government’s debt exchange initiative.

The programme dubbed JDX, facilitated the exchange of debt in the form of Jamaica dollar and US dollar bonds - old notes - which carry high interest rates, for new notes with lower interest rates and extended maturity.

Mazzocchi Alemanni told The Sunday Gleaner that his team approached the Government in the last quarter of 2008 when the signs of the global economic turmoil began to emerge and initiated preliminary talks about restructuring its debt programme.

‘Refloat debt’

He said the discussions were precipitated by the collapse of the powerful global financial services firm, Lehman Brothers Holding Inc.

“We started talking with the Government and saying you need to refloat your debt,” Mazzocchi Alemanni said.

“We told the Government, because your debt is so high and international rates are so low, this is a golden opportunity for Jamaica to reconfigure your debt at much lower rates.”

He said at the same time, there was an urgent need to source additional funds because of the crisis.

“So JDX became part of the IMF negotiations,” said Mazzocchi Alemanni.

Asked whether former finance minister should shoulder the blame for the heavy reliance on government paper, the professional diplomat responded with a chuckle, “My answer would be I was not here at the time.”

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.coom

The student who was verbally abused and choked by her teacher. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

1 2 >

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

A scathing verbal attack, followed by a physical assault, allegedly on a young female student, by an enraged teacher at the Braeton Primary and Junior High School last Thursday have left other teachers and students fuming.

A small-bodied 14-year-old girl told a gripping story of how she was brutally cursed by the teacher before being pursued and choked.

The child, who complained that she had been depicted as a young prostitute, had scratches on her neck.

She claimed that the marks were left by the teacher’s stranglehold.

Another teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Sunday Gleaner that she was embarrassed and appalled by the action of her colleague.

“I feel strongly about the issue with my colleague. I just can’t condone this behaviour,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

The teacher expressed concern that bad publicity could bring both the school and professional members of the teaching administration into disrepute.

She also expressed concern that the incident could affect the ongoing salary dispute with the Government.

The alleged attack came on the heels of a week when students were largely the victims of a stand-off between the Government and public-school teachers.

A two-day strike was followed by Teachers’ Day, with many schools closed as teachers were fêted, or fêted themselves, even as public debate raged about the quality of their performance.

Principal of the institution, Fitz Jackson (not the MP), said he was contacted by one of the student’s parents on Friday, but he had not received a report from the teacher.

Jackson said he was unable to comment on the matter as he had not been able to carry out his own investigations.

“I heard of the incident from a parent of the student; I don’t even know what time it took place.”

Jackson said he was unable to proceed on Friday, when he was told of the incident, as teachers were absent due to the Grade Nine Achievement Test at school.

But he said he was prepared to meet with the parent to resolve the issue.

Parents not letting up

Parents who have children attending the school told The Sunday Gleaner that they were adamant that the matter not be swept under the carpet.

Director of Communications at the Ministry of Education, Colin Blair, told The Sunday Gleaner that complaints of abuse in schools were infrequent.

“It happens, but not frequently,” he declared, in response to Sunday Gleaner questions.

“I don’t know of the specific case, but I want to emphasise what is illegal in society is illegal in schools … . No matter who is involved, the police should be called in,” Blair asserted.

The student said she was in a language arts session with a sealed bottle of drink on her desk when the teacher used a metal pole to hit it to the floor.

The child said the teacher then proceeded to curse her, before chasing her out of the classroom.

She said as she stood by the door, the teacher continued to berate her, calling her a whore.

“Me stand at the door and she tell me that me turn me mother house into a whorehouse,” said the student.

The child said she was embarrassed, as the teacher was cursing her in the presence of her peers.

The student related how a heated exchange developed between her and the teacher, with the teacher asking her, “Yu mother have anymore whoring pickney like you?”

The child said she responded, “A yu a whore!”

This apparently angered the teacher even more.

The student told The Sunday Gleaner that the teacher proceeded to chase her around the school.

Sought refuge in staffroom

She said she sought refuge in a staffroom where she saw another teacher seated.

But the presence of the teacher’s colleague in the staffroom did not deter the teacher, who was still in hot pursuit.

The student said she ran in circles around the seated adult in a bid to elude the pursuing teacher, but was eventually held in a chokehold.

The diminutive 14-year-old said the teacher threw her on a desk and proceeded to hit her head against its surface while choking her.

She pointed to scratches on her neck as she spoke to The Sunday Gleaner.

The student said the attacking teacher was restrained by her colleague who told her to leave the staffroom quickly.

She said she was subsequently sent to the guidance counsellor’s office.

The child said the guidance counsellor was not in the office at the time so she returned outside, where there was a buzz of activities, as both teachers and students discussed the situation.

She said a teacher told her that she had given up her rights when she answered the teacher. However, the student said the teacher did not tell her how she should have reacted when she was being attacked.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com

‘Notwithstanding the entreaties that came from the COP to join them in their campaign, I am not available to them’
Q & A on a Sunday with Ria Taitt

People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Diego Martin West Keith Rowley is definitely controversial, not your run-of-the-mill politician. He is strong-willed, opinionated and is not afraid of a fight.

But he is PNM to the bone and is quick to stress that he remains loyal to the party and its principles and not an individual, he tells political editor Ria Taitt.

His first public meeting on Thursday in Diego Martin West pleased a lot of PNM people but disappointed others, namely the Opposition, because it did not, in Rowley’s words, lead to the ’demonisation’ of his leader, Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Q: Since your declaration that you are a sailor on a PNM ship, some persons, including Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and COP political leader Winston Dookeran, have suggested that you have gone soft on your stand against corruption, against the Prime Minister and that is so because you are waiting for the PNM ship to dry dock in

order to take over.

I AM LOYAL TO MY PARTY: Dr Keith Rowley, PNM candidate for Diego Martin West addresses supporters during his campaign launch at Starlite car park, Diego Martin, last Thursday. -Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE

A: I hate to disappoint those in the Opposition who expected me to be their voice in this election campaign. I am a PNM voice.

Insofar as I am a PNM candidate, one of 41, and insofar as this organisation has as its leader for the time being, Patrick Manning, I hate to disappoint the COP and others who believe that my difference of opinion with Mr Manning or anybody else could have resulted in them having a political advantage. If they want to deal with UDeCOTT (Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd) and Calder Hart, they are free to do so. But they are in no position to tell me what stand to take. I have taken on publicly…at personal expense and personal pain, what they (COP and others) did not pay attention to.

And if any of them expected me to go on a PNM platform, in an election where my party is engaged as an organisation seeking votes, to attack the very party that I am a member of and am seeking support from, then I am not as stupid as they think. Notwithstanding the entreaties that came from the COP to join them in their campaign, I am not available to them.

I have always made it very clear I am a member of an organisation and not a supporter of an individual who may lead that organisation, and that has not changed. I am loyal to my party. I am loyal to my country. And I support and work with individuals, insofar as they do the right thing.

On Thursday, I made it crystal clear that the positions I have taken with respect to public administration and public accountability- which involves UDeCOTT and those who defended UDeCOTT or protected persons at UDeCOTT-I stand by.

They-the Opposition-have not addressed the issues of their performance when they held government office. Kamla Persad-Bissessar has not answered my point about her frustrating Bob Lindquist from the investigation into the Piarco Airport, nor has Dookeran dealt with my complaint about his behaviour on serious issues of public administration while governor of the Central Bank.

But I also object to the fact that in a speech where I was very careful to choose my words that the Trinidad Guardian could publish words that I didn’t say: ’Leave my Prime Minister alone’. I never said those words.

Will you be on the national platform?

I don’t think people should make anything special about speaking on the national platform. I have not done so in the last two elections. But my input (on those elections) was very effective because I worked in the marginal constituencies and in Tobago. People are making an issue of speaking on a national platform; it is just for show. I don’t believe in that.

Why was there no one on your platform from the current PNM Government or Parliament (except yourself) at Thursday’s meeting? (Speakers were former ministers Bridgid Annisette and Fitzgerald Hinds)

People offered. But we in Diego Martin felt that we had enough resources to launch our campaign.

Unlike a lot of PNM meetings which tend to have predominantly grassroot persons, the crowd in Diego Martin was more diverse. What accounts for this?

The location. There are alot of middle-class neighbourhoods. But there is also the loss of some middle-class support. Many have parked and want to be reassured. The interesting thing, however, is that they are still prepared to identify themselves as traditional PNM supporters. And the party needs to clarify its position to them in the face of the unusual electoral challenge.

What is unusual about this electoral challenge?

The combined Opposition led by someone who is perceived to have some credibility.

So is the PNM in danger of losing this elections?

This elections is very challenging, and it calls for effective campaigning and an awareness that we are facing a combined Opposition that is very well-resourced. The PNM has deep roots and traditional machinery. But nothing should be taken for granted until the last vote is counted.

You said when a ship goes into battle, it is no time to throw the captain overboard. If the PNM is defeated in this elections, would that be an appropriate time to ’dry dock and throw the captain overboard’?

That is a bridge only to be crossed if we get there. If we don’t get the result that we are anticipating (ie victory), we would have to review what has gone on against the background of the result. But I am not overly worried about the negatives (a possible defeat) at this stage. I am in a positive mode.

Where do you see your political career going in the event of a PNM defeat and a Rowley victory in Diego?

I have made a commitment to the people of Diego Martin West to represent their interest over the next five years, wherever that interest is located, whether the party is in or out of Government.

In the event the PNM wins, would you be prepared to accept a position in the Government?

Well, I can’t answer that and I pay no attention to that at this stage. These are bridges you cross if and when you get to them. The elections are not about membership in the Cabinet. It is about representation of your constituents in the Parliament. The selection of a Cabinet is another operation in which no person other than the prime minister has control. But if you observe how I have functioned as a backbencher, you would realise that I have done my best there as I have when I was in the Cabinet.

What is the difference between the Piarco Airport scandal under the UNC (United National Congress) and the UDeCOTT scandal under the PNM?

There was no singular voice that can be identified within the UNC that took issue with how the UNC government was functioning with respect to the Piarco Airport project and the need to rectify the wrongs what were taking place. It, therefore, fell to a PNM administration to appoint a commission of enquiry and to deal with this issue. In fact, they (the UNC) denied and defended (the airport matter) and continue to do so, notwithstanding the conviction and imprisonment of key players and the ongoing trial of others, including former government ministers.

(By contrast) The end result (of the UDeCOTT scandal) was a Government-appointed commission of enquiry brought about by positions taken by elements of the PNM itself. Notwithstanding the fact that the Government put up resistance, it ultimately came around to accepting the advice that the way to go was a commission of enquiry, and while the life of the enquiry was stormy, the end product was achieved.

What more can the Government do in this matter?

A lot more. Firstly, one should accept what developed at UDeCOTT was unacceptable. People have to be held accountable, and the systems that failed must be rectified by the implementation of the recommendations of the Uff Enquiry. Calder Hart was a functionary carrying out serious business in the State enterprise sector. The model does not apply only to UDeCOTT. And it falls to the Government to comfort the population (and assure them) that this cancer is not widespread.

Who are the persons who misled the population, ’hiding in the shadows,

waiting to come back into government’, that you referred to in your speech in Diego Martin

on Thursday night?

The population is well aware of what happened. All I alluded to is that the party, in order to engender the trust of the population-a requirement for winning the elections and for good governance- would have to hold people accountable for what went wrong.

Even if it includes senior Government members?

No one is above the people’s trust.

You talked about the Opposition campaign being built around the

demonisation of the (PNM) leader. Should the PNM party’s response to the demonisation of the prime minister be to sing his praises?

No. You give praise where praise is due. What you don’t want is to deify. I don’t know if you have observed but between January and now, Kamla has gone from being a normal parliamentarian who ascended to the leadership of the UNC, to ’hail Mrs Gandhi’. If she then begins to believe the adulation that is coming her way, it is only a matter of time before hubris replaces humility. Look around the Third World, once somebody finds favour, they are the saviour and if they are out of favour, they are demonised, in favour of the next ’messiah’. This deification of one leader feeds off the demonisation of the other. The same thing is waiting for Kamla. Some of the statements being made in support of Kamla are pure fluff. And if perchance she gets into office, those things are worth nothing.

That is a Third World phenomenon. You don’t see that in the developed world because they understand that the leader is worth so much in the equation, but that the other components are equally or more important. And the leadership earns that leadership status by virtue of how one is able to deal with the other components.

How do you break that cycle?

You break that by the political party advancing people of quality and letting those people represent the strength of the party as against representing a messianic devotional outpouring. This notion that someone is born to lead or sent by God has no place in a serious modern administration. And if we keeping putting people on pedestals, thinking that that is going to solve our problem, the problem would be recycled and would grow. We have got to say ’nice lady that you are’ or ’nice man that you are’, we have some problems to solve that require commitment, intellect and respect for the people, whose business you are called upon to administer.

After all, the purpose of having an election is provide the country with persons who would be entrusted with the management of its affairs to improve the quality of life. If that is not happening, whoever is in office would be exposed to those negatives (demonisation). And that is not to say that certain elements of personal aggravation don’t help to stir the pot.

You said in Diego Martin that as a party, the PNM had the strength to allow

dissent to survive. But many contend the only instance of that was the survival

of your nomination (as a candidate).

It is a good demonstration. To the extent that it has not happened as widely as people think…It is up to individuals who are functionaries of the party to either stand firm or acquiesce, taking the line of least resistance. There must be a separation between Government and party. When I first started interacting with PNM people in the 1970s, the PNM general council held office-holders accountable. And a lot of the government positions got their first formulation from the general council and other arms of the party. Over time, you are getting less and less of that, and it has to some extent evolved to the stage where messianic policies are part of the government programme. And this is not peculiar to the PNM.

The party cannot turn its back on the Government and, therefore, individuals who get Government authority should be mindful of that. And the party must also be aware that the arrangement which gives to persons in Government the capacity to dispense largesse could be used to strengthen individual positions and ultimately weaken party’s institutions.

Have you forgiven and turned your back on all that has transpired?

I have overcome all the attempts to damage me. I don’t know if it’s a question of forgiving or not forgiving. It is a question of me being on the alert and being on my guard to defend myself from continuing attempts because as you know, there are still a number of investigations (involving me)…But that does not hamper my involvement…I am a public official, and if people feel that there is a need to investigate my conduct or my character and or my involvement, they are free to do so. It is what comes out of the investigation that I should be concerned about. And I can tell you that I have no concerns in that regard. (Trinidad Express)

BARBADOS GOSPELFEST 2010 has the blessing of the Government.

Minister of Community Development and Culture Steve Blackett, delivering the feature address at the launch of the festival yesterday, said his ministry was proud to continue its alliance with Gospelfest because “we believe” in it.

“We believe in the invaluable contribution that it makes to Barbados, in its sustainability and in the vision and the mandate of its organisers,” Blackett told the organisers, sponsors, and patrons gathered in Jubilee Gardens, The City.

The minister said that a festival such as this was critical to positive cultural development in Barbados. Blackett saw the festival doing good to the “moral fabric of our society, particularly at a time when one of our major challenges is, to some measure, one of the balance and focus in the lives of our young people”.

Executive producer of the May 23 to 30 festival, Adrian Agard, said that despite the fallout from the international economic crisis, Gospelfest could still be expected to be “awesome” this year. He promised the festival would be filled with exciting and inspiring programmes for the entire family.

Jamaican artiste Papa San and the group Shine The Light, both of whom have swept the Caribbean with their music, will be the headliners of the festival, the producer said.

“A big thank you to all the patrons who continue to support Barbados Gospelfest by purchasing tickets and attending the events year after year,” Agard said to applause.

“We give God thanks for the freedom which we have in this nation to proclaim his name through the various forms of artistic expression represented in this festival,” he ad ded.

Gospelfest, designated “one of the Magnificient Seven” festivals in Barbados, and promoted as the premier gospel show in the Caribbean, has been on the country’s national calendar for 18 consecutive years.

During the launch there were performances by Frederick Powlett, Lilian Lorde, and the Barbados Gospelfest Mass Choir.

Reverend Enric Connolly blessed the festival. (AH) (Nation News)

by MIKE KING
HAMILTON LASHLEY may have changed political parties more often than a chameleon changes colour, but he still commands favour with the majority in St Michael South East.

Lashley has criss-crossed both the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) ever since he entered the political fray in 1994, the latest twist coming a few days ago when he decided he would no longer be an Independent member of the House of Assembly and would sit on the Government benches of the DLP.

Recently when a NATION team visited the constituency, it was evident that Lashley was still held in high esteem. However, he is not nearly as popular as he was before, and there are some discontented constituents who feel he has not delivered on promises.

Colin “Heavy Foot” Harewood, a former Barbados footballer and a respected community leader, thinks that Lashley is more of a humanitarian.

“Political-wise, it shows he doesn’t have a sense of loyalty in terms of the political landscape. As a person, knowing Hammie, he is making the switch for the people.

“He wants the best for his people; but some may question his party loyalty. He is more of a humanitarian than a politician.”

A woman in her 30s, who requested anonymity, said the people were disappointed with Lashley’s representation.

“You can’t keep crossing the floor all the time. You got to stand for something or you will fall for anything. People want a politician who has a sense of loyalty,” she said.

Another, a resident of The Pine, said she was very disappointed with Lashley.

“Hammie forget who help he. He helps the wrong people. I was for him, not for any party; but no longer.
“One of his biggest problems is promising people and can’t deliver, and people ain’t about that.”

Canteen operator Florence “Judy” Jordan is backing Hammie.

“I am with Hammie right through. He made the right move. I believe in Hammie. He does a lot of good for the people.”

Randolph “Stanley” Murrell, who has been residing in Factory Avenue, Wildey, for the last 20 years, is in Hammie’s corner.

“Hammie has done a lot of good for the people. He has paid a lot of electricity and water bills for the people and has given some people work. I have got work through Hammie. I feel he has made the party switches to help the people.”

John, a taxi-driver from Factory Avenue, and “Little Saint” are also backing Hammie all the way, along with former national darts player Ken Hamilton.

“He is my man. I am still with him. He has not let me down,” Hamilton said.

Teganah Alleyne, who hails from Rock Close, Wildey, said that Lashley had not quite delivered.

“There is a lot of unemployment in the area, and he needs to do more to help. There are some of us who are willing to work if given the chance. I would like him to look at getting some debushing done. The Pine needs some cleaning up.”

Randy Farnum, who limes by Charles’ popular canteen in Factory Avenue, says wherever Lashley is going, he is going with him.

“Suppose he did jump from here to Mars,
I am with him. He is a good man.” (Nation News)

Governor of the Barbados Central Bank Dr Delisle Worrell.

by TIM SLINGER

THE CENTRAL BANK OF BARBADOS may face court action for failing to honour previously agreed on promotions for nine members of staff.

At the centre of the controversy is Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell who, the workers claim, informed them of their promotions last month but has since reneged.

In a letter dated April 1, a copy of which the SUNDAY SUN obtained, the bank’s acting deputy director Cheryl Greenidge confirmed the promotions.

“We have been advised that recommendations for promotion, via bracketing, were approved as follows . . . ,” the document stated as it identified nine staffers moving up the ladder.

However, two weeks later in another letter to the said officers the bank governor indicated that he regretted the turnaround.

“The reason I want to chat with you personally is that, in view of all that has happened, I am determined to take a personal interest in the careers of the nine of you going forward,” Worrell said.

Worrell’s letter further said: “In all your cases we have failed to do this, and we have caused you injury. It is not your fault; it is our fault as management. I therefore owe you, each one, more than a simple apology.

“I feel a special obligation to ensure that there are no adverse effects on your careers as a result of our failing, and that once we have put our house in order you will be able to build a happy and rewarding career with us.”

In another letter sent to the bank’s entire staff - a copy of which the SUNDAY SUN also obtained - Worrell said the bank was no longer confirming the promotions.

“Recently some appointments on promotion were under consideration. Upon reflection, however, it was determined that it might not have been in the best interest of the organisation as a whole to confirm those

appointments at this time,” it said in part.

Efforts to reach Worrell for comment proved futile.

However, attorney-at-law Ralph Thorne, QC, representing the staffers, confirmed discussing the issue with the bank’s legal advisers, but said there had been no change.

“For the time being, we have deferred to the high standing of Sir Roy Trotman [the Barbados Workers’ Union general secretary] in the hope that this internationally respected and distinguished trade unionist will be able to persuade the Central Bank of Barbados as to the immorality of the revocation of the appointments - with the hope that these innocent officers will be instated to their promoted offices.

“If the Central Bank continues to be intransigent, our final recourse will be to the High Court of Barbados for adjudication as to the illegality of the revocations,” Thorne added.

*timslinger@nationnews.com

Lieutenant-Colonel John Nurse

by WADE GIBBONS

and MARIA BRADSHAW

SUPERINTENDENT OF PRISONS Lieutenant Colonel John Nurse has denied claims by some of his senior officers that the Dodds, St Philip prison is seriously undermanned.

Yesterday he told the SUNDAY SUN the prison was functioning properly and his officers were on the job “doing their work”.

He also refuted claims that a number of officers had been sent home.

This followed reports emanating from senior prison officers that between 35 and 40 temporary warders were recently sent home because Government did not have the money to pay them.

“The Barbados Prison Service is heading in a serious direction and we need the help of the media to air this situation. But do not expect to get anything other than denials,” a senior member of the Prison Officers Association (POA) told the SUNDAY SUN.

Last week the POA held an emergency meeting at which a number of matters related to working conditions, promotions and appointments were discussed. It was also stated that several outstanding monies were due to warders.

During that meeting it was revealed that the workers were “laid off” but could be considered for future employment when the financial situation improved.

According to our source, a rise in petty theft had coincided with the erratic pay situation, and some incidents had been reported to the police. The nearby District “C” Police Station confirmed receiving reports of pilfering of money and cellular phones and these were being investigated.

SUNDAY SUN investigations have also revealed that allowances have been cut from some warders who have been in acting positions for more than ten years. They were informed last week that unqualified warders, even though acting since the 1990s, would not be appointed to their posts.

Interviews for promotion have been ongoing at Dodds over the past month.

The senior warder indicated the POA had already drawn their concerns about staffing, security and working conditions to the attention of the Personnel Administration, Public Service Commission, the Advisory Board and Attorney General Freundel Stuart.

Just two weeks ago security at the facility came into public focus when an ex-convict allegedly drew a firearm on an unarmed warder at the entrance to the prison. That individual has since been charged.

The SUNDAY SUN has been informed that an internal disciplinary probe has also been launched into the incident after another warder working in the area where this alleged gun incident occurred, denied seeing anything. (Nation News)

Angela Mitchell-Gittens and daughter Kenya admiring the Mother’s Day cards of Mark Adamson.

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SCORES OF BARBADIANS flocked to stores, malls, floral shops and jewellery centres yesterday purchasing items to shower on mummy dearest today Mother’s Day.

Roses, perfumes and chocolates were the big sellers.

The global recession has had an impact on sales for the most part, but floral shops such as Victoria Florist did a decent trade with vase arrangements. Victoria Florist owner Denise Crebbin said she was reasonably pleased with yesterday’s sales.

Barbados athlete United States-based Shernelle Nicholls, who holds national records in the shot put and discus, was at Cave Shepherd & Co. buying gifts for mum Shirley. She and brother Shamar said they would ensure that their mother had a memorable day today.

Shernelle, 26, has just graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Tropicana Jewellery was busy for most of the day, with many shoppers seeking watches as gifts for their mothers.

Street vendor Mark Adamson, who usually does a brisk trade in socks, caught the attention of many with his display of Mother’s Day cards. Attorney-at-law Angela Mitchell Gittens didn’t miss the chance to buy a card for three-year-old daughter Kenya.

It wasn’t all about tangible gifts, as some offspring treated their mums to facials and manicures. Others told the SUNDAY SUN they would prepare a special meal for their mothers today.
(MK)