Former Immigration C.E.O. Candelaria Saldivar Still on Government Payroll

Candelaria Saldivar

C.E.O. Candelaria Saldivar, the sister of Minister John Saldivar, remains on administrative leave over a year after vacating her office in the Ministry of Immigration.  That’s because she reportedly couldn’t get along with the Heads of Department. During this time, the senior public officer continues to enjoy her full salary, as well as the perks of her post.  According to the Leader of the Opposition, that’s an annual income of well over sixty thousand dollars, not including the monthly entertainment and housing allowance.  Today, the Prime Minister was questioned about Saldivar’s leave of absence.  Here’s what he said about the situation.

John Briceño, Leader of Opposition

“Will the Right Honorable Prime Minister, as the minister responsible for the public service, inform this honorable house the current status of Chief Executive Officer, Candelaria Saldivar, formerly the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Labor Local Government and Immigration, who has been on administrative leave since June 2015, who is without assignment? Whether she is still receiving her full C.E.O. salary, allowances and benefits which includes vehicle allowance and if this is so, can the prime minister inform us how much longer he will remain on administrative leave?”

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“Mister Speaker, Misses Morter is not a contract officer. When she was made C.E.O., it was a promotion and so when she was put on administrative leave or agreed to go on administrative leave, there was no question of giving notice to put an end to her contract as C.E.O. She is, I repeat a public officer and in the normal course does not exit the public service until she reaches retirement age. So the current position is that we have not yet been able to find an office to reassign her. We have to make sure that she doesn’t lose any benefits by way of her reassignment. She is therefore still on administrative leave with her full benefits. It is long outstanding; we hope to sort it out very shortly. If there simply is not another public service position that is on the same level that she is prepared to accept, we will discuss with her retirement in the interest of the service. But in the meantime, she continues to get her benefits yes.”