WORKERS of the Department of Public Service, who were sacked by Minister of the Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, are back on the job.

This was confirmed by recently-appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service, Karen Van Sluytman in an invited comment, on Monday.

“Those people are back on the job…they have been on the job since a little over two weeks ago,” said Van Sluytman.

Minister Sarabo-Halley had dismissed the three employees – Andrew Grant, Gail Williams and Andre Dazzel – in June, 2019, shortly after she had taken office.
It was not long after that President David Granger directed that a Board of Inquiry be established to advise the State on the veracity of charges of corruption, misconduct and improper behaviour against named staff.

Director- General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, had disclosed that the Board of Inquiry, headed by Human Resource Consultant, Lance Carberry, concluded its work. Its findings and recommendations were sent to President Granger and have since been adopted by him.

“The board found that the letters to the three public servants were unlawful and having regard to its observations and findings, recommended that the letters of termination be immediately withdrawn,” the director-general disclosed.

On July 25, 2019, it was determined that they be reinstated with immediate effect and “restored to their respective positions” within the Department of the Public Service. “[They] will continue to enjoy all benefits and allowances they previously enjoyed prior to the purported termination of their services,” he added.

It was explained that it was not within the remit of the Public Service Minister to dismiss staff, since that responsibility lies with the Permanent Secretary.

When asked if there will be any further investigations into the conduct and alleged actions of the three workers, Van Sluytman said she could not confirm at that time.