Last night, the Director of the Immigration Department told us he was launching an investigation into the sickout allegedly staged by 8 to 10 immigration officers at the Western border last week.
Things moved quickly after that because by nightfall the officers all received letters notifying them they were being placed on administrative leave. The letters allege that they willfully abandoned their posts - even though they had doctor's papers.
That has gotten the PSU involved; 6 of the officers are union members. Today we spoke to the president via zoom - and he says the CEO exposed the department to a possible lawsuit:
Dean Flowers, President - PSU
"The Public Service Union is extremely concerned about the manner in which, or the steps that the Immigration Department has taken in relation to this matter. In my review of a few of the letters, the CEO and the Ministry of Immigration or in the Department of Immigration has essentially gone out on a limb and accused officers of sabotage, a very serious allegation, which in my view, also, borders, defamation."
"But I want to say that the CEO is playing with taxpayers dollars because, in my view, she has entered some very serious waters to malign and defame these officers."
"These officers complied with regulations 153 of the Belize Constitution, public service regulation. They lawfully, within the specified period of time, submitted their medical certificates, and they followed proper administrative procedures by informing their superiors that they were not feeling well."
"The regulations recognizes that officers are entitled to approved medical/sick leave, man. When they're unwell. They're entitled to that. It is not for the director or the CEO to then see that they are suspicious of their illness. Who the hell certified unu to be, to to determine what is a certified medical leave versus a fraudulent medical certificate? Who the hell certified unu as such? I really upset about this thing man. Let's respect the process and then let's look into the welfare of the officers so that perhaps we can then uncover if there is any underlying issues, but not let's let's act in a heavy handed manner with the view to intimidate and to prosecute the officers. And like I said, in my view from where I stand to expose taxpayers to some serious payday for these officers."
"You cannot levy allegations against officers without concluding your investigation."
"And she has essentially stated in her letter that, her, her, her, her suspicion on the illnesses that were legally reported and rightfully reported and procedurally reported properly, her suspicion against those report amounts to sabotage. And she has, from the onset, breached the principles of due process and natural justice. And it concerns me not only as the president, but it concerns me as a taxpayer, because then you start opening yourself up for lawsuits, which my children and your children CEO, your children, director have to pay for."
We will keep following the story.
