As we reported earlier, the Prime Minister has sidelined the Minister for a three-month leave of absence following a string of revelations involving government contracts awarded to his family's businesses.
But the political controversy surrounding the multi-million dollar financial system leak hasn't cooled down. Tonight, both the National Union movement and the Opposition Party rejected the government's temporary compromise, calling a 'leave of absence' a shallow substitute for genuine accountability. First out the gate was the National Trade Union Congress, which fired off an urgent demand for the Minister's total resignation or immediate termination from Cabinet. Hours later, the Opposition United Party joined the chorus and declared that 'administrative leave is not accountability'.
The Union also calls for a complete dismantling of the CEO model, reverting back to the traditional, merit-based Permanent Secretary system to reduce political interference.
