MAJOR General (ret’d) Norman Mc Lean is suing the government for alleged unpaid gratuity, of $7,969,086, from January 1991 to January 1993.
The case is expected to be called today before Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang in the Constitutional Court.

Mc Lean, being represented by Senior Counsel Rex Mc Kay and Edward Luckhoo, as well as other attorney-at-law Mr. Neil Boston, is seeking redress under Article 153 of the Constitution for contravention, by the State, of his fundamental and constitutional rights.
Mc Lean, who was a top Police Officer before he became Director General of Guyana National Service (GNS) and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is seeking:

* a declaration that the refusal of the Government to pay him gratuity after it became due and payable in January 1991, is a contravention of his fundamental right to property guaranteed by Article 142 of the Constitution;
* a declaration that he is entitled to redress under Article 153 of the Constitution for the Government’s breach of his fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 142 of the Constitution;
* an order directing the respondent to pay him his gratuity totaling $7,969,086, calculated from January 1991 to January 1993;
* interest at the rate of 6 percent from January 1,1991 when his gratuity became due and payable;
*     such further or other relief as may be just, and
* costs.

In support of the action, Mc Lean said he was employed as a public officer by the Government of Guyana continuously without a break in service for more than 36 years, from June 1954 to December, 1990.

He said he commenced working in the Treasury Department from June 1954 until he was appointed a Cadet Officer in the then British Guiana Police Force that, subsequently, became the GPF following independence.

UNBROKEN SERVICE
Mc Lean said he continued his unbroken service as a public officer in the employ of the government and was appointed a member of the Guyana National Service from June 1, 1974 until July 1979 when he entered the GDF as Brigadier from July 13, 1979 until August 14, 1985 and remained in service as Chief of Staff until his retirement on December 31, 1990.
Mc Lean said he has made several demands, in writing, for payment of the gratuity to all the Presidents of the Republic of Guyana, annually, from 1991, commencing with Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mrs. Janet Jagan, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr.  Donald Ramotar up to December 2011, all without success or any tangible responses.
Mc Lean said he has also written Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr. Roger Luncheon, up to March 13, 2009.