P.S.U. President Explains Union’s Position on Jumoke Castro

Jumoke Castro

Jumoke Castro, son of U.D.P. Cabinet Minister Edmond Castro was in the hot seat after he made vile comments on social media against Plus TV’s Shasta Wade.  Jumoke, who is a member of the Public Service Union, threatened Wade with gang rape, attracting widespread condemnation and disgust. He was placed on administrative leave from the Belize Tax Service and the P.S.U. Service Union condemned Jumoke’s actions. However, the union’s Industrial Relations Officer later wrote to the Financial Secretary Joseph Waight telling him that Castro maintains that he did not contravene regulations and has committed no major misconduct during the performance of the functions of his post. P.S.U. President Gerald Henry says that while the union condemns Castro’s action, it is the legal mandate of the union to defend one of its members. 

Gerald Henry

Gerald Henry, President, P.S.U.

“One of the key components of the union is to have representation for its members. At the same time we don’t condone the wrongs that our members do. It looks conflicting but it is truly not. We are not condoning his action. That is the first thing that went out. And then the second thing that went out is that there must be due process at all times. That is where the representation part comes in. It is unfortunate that the letter got leak and it shows that things aren’t the way that it suppose to be because somebody still wanted to make mischief. The union remains strong in its position that there must be due process. If we had not taken that position in terms of representing Brother Castro then he could have sued the union. That is key that people have to understand that the union must represent its membership by law. So it is a legal position that the union had to take but at the same time we don’t condone. If the legal process in terms of the administration process proves that he will be disciplined in whatever way then we are okay with that. It is just that it must be done fairly. Simple as that.”