Speculation is rife that the Keith Mitchell-led government is using the Public Service Commission (PSC) to target some public officers who are not in good grace with the regime and some of its operatives.
THE NEW TODAY understands that three public officers including a husband and wife were transferred on short notice from their positions within the Ministry of Education headed by Emmalin Pierre.
The most high profile is Daisy Hazzard, who held the post of Corporate Communications Officer within the ministry to a new position within the Government Information Service (GIS).
According to a well-placed source, the most qualified Statistician in the Ministry of Education, Junior Alexis was given a letter late Friday to go on assignment from Monday to the Statistical Office.
Hours earlier, Alexis’ wife received a letter from the PSC transferring her out of the ministry.
A source within the ministry said that George has not been enjoying the best of relations with the newly appointed Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Angela Finlay who was his supervisor in the Statistics Department of the ministry.
The move against Hazard comes amidst friction between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the workers joint negotiating team comprising the Public Workers Union (PWU) and the Technical and Allied Workers Union (TAWU) on salary increases for the next 3-year period.
An informed public servant charged that Hazzard who serves as the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of PWU was removed from her post as a form of victimisation in light of the recent breakdown in negotiations between the parties.
“She did not request a transfer and was not aware that a transfer was imminent and in her present substantive position, she reported directly to the Permanent Secretary (PS) and was on the senior management team and her job description required that she laise with the PS directly on a daily basis with correspondence and decisions…”, she said.
“It’s clear …government has a way of frustrating workers and it’s unfair to them. Many workers are being frustrated into stress, because government place them in a corner somewhere…we have many other workers who have undergone and would have undergone and is undergoing similar things,” she added.
According to the source who wished not to be identified, Hazzard is seeking legal consultation on the way forward.
When contacted on Monday, Hazzard confirmed that she was transferred by the commission.
She said: “I am very, very, proud of my achievement as a teacher…and so as a civil servant I know that I am liable for transfer and reassignment and so anywhere that I am placed to work and am gainfully employed I certainly will do that”.
Speaking in her capacity as PRO of PWU, Hazzard commented: “There are many, many, civil servants who have been placed on assignment. Our President Ms. Roberts (and) Brother (Brian) Grimes, our former PRO, but you know wherever you are planted you bloom and so you grow and as PRO, any opportunity that presents itself for me to meet and get to know a wider cross section of the workers I really welcome it. So, I am moving to a new ministry and it means that I can spread my influence as PRO of the Union”.
Late last year, PWU President, Rachel Roberts was transferred from her post as Senior Administrative Officer within the Ministry of Education to the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO), which does not carry a similar post.
Roberts has since taken legal action against the PSC for the move, which has been described as a demotion since the Senior Administrative position is on the same level as that of a Deputy Permanent Secretary post.