Going now to matters of the Public Service - which fall in Usher's portfolio - last week we heard the president of the PSU Dean Flowers say that it is unconstitutional to put the immigration officers who were part of the sickout on leave because they handed in the proper sick leave documentation.
Well tonight, The Minister of Public Service is saying that there are different processes which should be followed on both sides including a way to resolve grievances while the investigation is ongoing:
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"Well, I think that the The investigation that is ongoing, there are no conclusions have been reached. So I think that's jumping the gun a little bit in terms of the conclusions that the president of the PSU reached. The fact of the matter is that you did have persons that were out sick, that they did provide their papers, et cetera, that they're supposed to provide in accordance with the regulations. Now the ministry at the local level, the Ministry of Immigration, is doing an internal investigation. If there is a grievance at any ministry level, there is a grievance procedure that should be followed. So if these persons had a grievance, whatever that grievance may be, the attempt is to resolve it at that ministry level first. If it can't be resolved at that ministry level, it's then elevated to the Ministry of Public Service. If at that level that grievance is unable to be resolved, then of course you then go to the Public Service Commission. But what is important is that that process starts at or is completed, because I think it has already started, at the local, at the line ministry level. And then if the grievance is not able to be resolved there, then of course the Ministry of Public Service as a human resource management organization of government would then step in to see if we can resolve it."
Reporter
"Can you verify whether any laws were being broken or any policies were ignored during those immigration officers were placed on admin leave?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"No administrative leave is part of the regulations. When an investigation is ongoing, that is a normal procedure so that that investigation can be carried out in a free and open manner. So I don't see any laws being broken. Now, as the president of the PSU said, due process requires that if there is a grievance, if there is an issue that is found in an investigation, that those officers are given an opportunity to respond."
"And that is what we have to ensure, that you have to be given that opportunity to say your side. And then from there, if it can't be resolved, as I said, it then is elevated to the public, initial public service."
