And while transfers are on pause - our information tells us that one did go through for a single Customs officer who reportedly received his letter of transfer hours before the circular went out. The minister says that the specific case is due to him returning home:
Reporter
"And so we are told that one single customs officer did get a transfer letter yesterday from your ministry on can you comment on that?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"I don't know the particular case that you're referring to, but certainly if it was a justification. The next justification, of course, is sending people back to their home base, meaning their home station. That way we continue to save on housing allowance, meaning that, remember, if you are away from your home station, housing allowance is a monthly allowance that you receive. If you're going to a post wher.e hardship allowance is due to you then again that's a monthly allowance that you receive so again the analysis will say okay let us try to send these public officers to their home base so we can see it further on with their home with their housing allowance."
Reporter
"That would be Mr. Pol, are you aware of that situation?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"Uhm, I think that he's going to his home base I believe. So that is a case where he's going to his home station and again it's about cost saving."
