RECENT developments in the Social Protection Ministry which resulted in the request for Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ms Anne Greene to proceed on administrative leave has been deemed as “an early sign of intolerance and an inability to adequately respond to and resolve industrial conflict in the Ministry of Social Protection.”

This was according to the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) in a release yesterday, in which the body detailed that such an issue “raises serious concerns” in the GTUC over the nature of the industrial environment that will be cultivated.

According to reports, both ministers – Volda Lawrence and Simona Broomes (Minister within the Ministry) had paid a visit to the Child Care and Protection Agency earlier this week, during which a meeting between them and the staff was held.

Reports indicate that Greene sought to advise Broomes to “build” a relationship with the staff at the agency, since they were still hurting over comments Broomes had made during the elections campaign.

During the campaign, Broomes, who was then President of the Guyana Women Miners Association (GWMA), allegedly said that the best thing that came out of the Child Care and Protection Agency was the paint on the building.

As a result, Greene took it upon herself to remind the junior minister of what she said during the campaign, while recommending that it was time for her to mend the fence and build a personal relationship with staff at the agency, given her position as a minister.

It was alleged that Broomes took umbrage to Greene’s remarks and responded by saying that she (Broomes) is a minister and that Greene had no business telling her how to do her work.
Following the exchange between the two women which reportedly took place in full view of other staff members of the agency, Broomes stormed out of the room.

Conflicting reports however suggest that Greene, during the meeting, launched a verbal attack on the junior minister over the said remarks made during the elections

campaign. According to this source, prior to the meeting between the staff and the two ministers, Greene had assisted both ladies during the familiarisation tour of

the agency during which she referred to Minister Volda Lawrence as “the Minister” and repeatedly ignored the presence of Broomes.

According to the same source, as was reported by ‘Newssource,’ “Greene said she needed to clear her mind of something and reportedly turned to Broomes and said she was unprepared to work with her because of statements Broomes had made on the campaign trail.”
The source continued that Greene was speaking at the top of her voice, as she demanded that the new minister apologise for statements made on the campaign trail about the work of the agency.
“She pushed back her chair and turned to Minister Broomes and said ‘you madam, me and my staff are not prepared to work with you because you had a lot to say on the campaign trail’,” the source told Newssource, adding that Broomes also raised the tone of her voice in response to Greene.
Additionally, the report disclosed that Minister Lawrence reprimanded Greene over her behaviour and tone and was about to leave the meeting when Greene said she was sorry, but needed to get the issue off of her chest.
Following this, Greene was issued with a letter on Friday, May 29 directing her to proceed on annual leave (which she did not request) which amounts to 36 days.
Against this backdrop, the GTUC sought to seize the opportunity to remind the Honourable Ministers that it is less than three weeks since they were on the campaign trail promising to be different and offering themselves as better alternatives to the previous Government.
“They are reminded that better practices are not limited to areas of corruption and marginalisation, but also to the ability to manage industrial practices. As a result, ministers are reminded that their actions determine how persons perceive their ability to exercise stewardship of the ministries under their portfolio and may unfortunately result in an unfair labelling of the entire new administration,” the Trades Union Congress added.
The GTUC continued that they have been informed that Ms Lawrence has responsibility for Labour. Therefore, any action of hers that is inimical to the best interest of preserving workers’ rights and due process will be seen as ominous, since this minister will have to enter into bargaining and negotiations with labour organisations and will have to conciliate/arbitrate disputes and grievances. “This requires skills, tolerance and an ability to hammer out positions that will result in fair resolve of issues,” they said.
“Workers of this country are looking to this new Government for change that will see their rights upheld. Indiscriminate practices by the political directorate of the coalition will not be given a pass, for where such behaviours were considered wrong under the PPP they cannot now be acceptable under the APNU+AFC,” the GTUC statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Minister Lawrence in a statement last evening took the opportunity to “state categorically” that the verbal abuse levelled against the junior minister by Greene, is “erroneous.”
“The minister strongly condemns the unprofessional manner and discourteous behaviour of the Director and intimates (of the Child Protection Agency) that such behaviour would not be tolerated in the ministry” the statement by Minister Lawrence revealed.
To this end, the statement concluded by highlighting that, “As a consequence, the Director has been sent on annual leave with effect from Monday 1st June, 2015.”
Greene is expected to return to work on July 7, 2015.

(By Ravin Singh)