During our first commercial break, you may have seen an ad targeting the Minister of Public Service and Political and Constitutional Reform, Henry Charles Usher accusing him of remaining employed at Holy Redeemer Credit Union while being a member of the House of Representatives.
According to the National Assembly handbook, an officer is, quote, "forbidden to undertake in any private work for payment or gain, to engage in a trade, business, employment, or in any commercial undertaking, or to accept any commission in any matter connected with the exercise of his duties," end quote.
Today when we asked Usher about his employment status at HRCU, he dodged the question.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"I have not seen that ad but wherever I am, I serve the people."
Courtney Menzies:
"So you're not collecting a salary at HRCU?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"I serve the people wherever I sit, whether I have a political office, a ministerial office, I have a constituency that I work in and I make sure the people are represented and I serve the people wherever I go."
"It's about serving the people and I sit in the House of Representatives because of the people in Fort George and they are the people I represent."
Courtney Menzies:
"But if a member of the UDP, if they were elected and they were still practicing law or still in their former place of business, the PUP would react in the same way."
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"That's a scenario that hasn't come up so I wouldn't know how to answer that question."
