What’s the Fate of Forestry Officer Who Hung Up Phone on the PM?
Henry Charles Usher
Last week, we reported that Forestry Officer Daniel Chi’s fate rests with the Public Service Commission, after a recommendation was made by the Ministry of Sustainable Development for his dismissal. Will a meeting of the commission, purportedly scheduled for this week, determine the outcome of the case? While it is not handled by the Ministry of Public Service, today, the media asked Minister Henry Charles Usher if the alleged infraction warrants the highest level of discipline – dismissal. Here’s what Minister Usher had to say on the matter.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“I have to say that I have not seen the actual submission to the Public Service Commission. That’s not handled by the ministry, it’s handled by the commission and the commission is meeting again on Friday, I believe; I’m not sure if that is on the agenda. What I can say is that disciplinary procedures are in the Public Service Regulations. There is a procedure that has to be followed and as far as I know that procedure has been followed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development in terms of what has been done with the leave and then the suspension and so on. And then the application is made to the Public Service Commission for further discipline, but I don’t know what has been requested.”
Duane Moody
“Sir, C.E.O. Doctor Williams told us last week in an interview that the recommendation is for him to be terminated….”
Henry Charles Usher
“He would know more than me if that’s the recommendation that that ministry has sent to the Public Service Commission.”
Reporter
“Is it okay though that they’ve gone all the way to the top, the highest penalty that’s on the list? Dismissal is the highest for what is considered a minor misconduct. That’s in the P.S.U. regulation.”
Henry Charles Usher
“Well it is still a live matter so I wouldn’t want to comment on what decision could or should be made. What I can say is that there are two different types of infractions in the public service. There are minor infractions and major infractions. Now if the determination is made by the commission that this is an infraction that warrants such as disciplinary measure then they will make that decision.”
