BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – Another officer in the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Health has fallen victim to a high official in that ministry.
Douglas Wattley, Chairman of the People’s Labour Party (PLP) of which Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris is PLP Leader is questioning the inaction of the Governor General and the Public Service Commission and also wants his Parliamentary Representative to resign.
Mr. Wattley disclosed Monday that the latest victim is Mr. Clifford Griffin, the Administrative Officer in the Ministry of Health, who had applied for 34 days of leave and was called into a meeting with Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Senator Hon. Wendy Phipps who informed him that since he had 43 days available to him, he is directed to take all 43 days.
“With all due respect, she is out of her place,” Wattley posted on his FaceBook page.
“The officer is authorized, by policy and practice, to accumulate 54 days leave. He has every right to take his leave in any manner he wants respecting the exigencies of the Service. Who the hell is she to tell a senior public servant to take all of his leave? That is punitive and she does not have the power to punish a Public Servant,” said Wattley, who added that the Minister “just perpetrated the same injustice on the PS of Health, Mrs. Ione Liburd-Willett.
“You were wrong and out of your place then too. Who are you to presume that you know what plans these officers have for their leave days?” asked Mr. Wattley, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health.
“Where are the Governor General and the Public Service Commission? Why are you allowing this woman to disrespect our Public Servants in this manner? No one in this Government gives a hoot about our Public Servants? Past, present and future Public Servants will not forget – this I promise. Sure, we will take our double salaries and double pensions because it is our money in the first place. But you know what we value more? Respect!!,” said Wattley.
He pointed out that the nonsense and confusion in the Ministry of Health “is happening, virtually every day, under the nose of the Senior Minister of Health and Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 8, Hon. Eugene Hamilton and is calling on the representative to resign.