The ultimate humiliation of a worker/person is to deprive that person of their legitimate income; and it ought to be considered a criminal act when it is done by the government of the day. Equal to the crime are we the members of society – and in particular the Social Partners which remain silent, ignoring the social and economic impact on the individual.
One such case involves the former Cabinet Secretary, Gemma Bain-Thomas, who was removed from the payroll in August 2018 and is yet to receive compensation in spite of a court ruling awarding her compensation.
What a serious indictment and violation of a worker’s basic human rights by the said government which is supposed to provide for all its people?
Undoubtedly, a demonstration of the power of the NNP Government to inflict pain, real pain on anyone whom it perceives in a different light.
To reflect on the Bain-Thomas scenario, she spent 30 years in the Public Service working her way up the ladder to the highest Office in the Service – that of Cabinet Secretary.
The change of government following the 2013 General Elections brought about Mrs Bain-Thomas being put on special assignment as Head of Public Service Reform, and then subsequently removed from the Public Service secured post to a politically created Executive Director of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism Commission headed by her junior.
The rules of the Public Service forbid a junior officer to manage a senior officer.
The matter went as far as to the OECS Court of Appeal which said in its judgment of September 22, 2017 that Bain-Thomas was unconstitutionally removed from her post.
The Court awarded her compensatory damages, and former Attorney General Sir Lawrence Joseph signed the agreement representing Government. The High Court, in a judgment on March 19th, granted vindicatory compensation.
As a former member of the leadership of the Public Workers Union, I am disappointed that this important issue of economic abuse of a member and senior public officer was not given great attention, and allowing Prime Minister Mitchell to get away with another violation of workers’ rights.
However, of greater concern is the fact that the Prime Minister’s Cabinet is made up of six women and absolutely no one seems interested in having this matter settled. What a shame that women in top leadership positions do not see the legitimate plight of a fellow woman as an urgent priority. It is a poor reflection on the quality of social leadership of the current crop of Grenadian woman politicians in high office.
On a daily basis, Ms Bain-Thomas has a family to support, and social and economic needs like the women in the Cabinet of ministers.
The office of Head of State is held by a woman, Governor General Dame Cecile LaGrenade. Her office played a role in the Bain-Thomas transfer, and is aware of the legal court rulings, and her termination from the Public Service. She must now use her influence to see to it that that matter becomes a closed chapter.
The Government of Dr. Keith Mitchell cannot justify its failure to compensate Bain-Thomas. As Prime Minister and ministers, they all are guaranteed of their compensation at the end of their electoral term in office – collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars. The highest court has ruled and Bain-Thomas must now be compensated.
For many, Dr. Mitchell is immune from making blunders – regardless to how glaring the evidence. Even those who call themselves born-again Christians ignore evidence and defend and justify the leader’s interest.
The NNP government’s grave injustice to Bain-Thomas is sinful and the silence of the Unions, Grenada Chamber of Industry of Commerce, Conference of Churches of Grenada, Evangelical and Seventh Day Conferences – which are all part of the Social Partners Group, must end. They owe it to the service of mankind and in the case of the Christian leaders, to Jesus Christ himself.
(Rae Roberts is a former Senator for Labour in the Upper House and current member of the main opposition National Democratic Congress)