Services Commission hearing for suspended officers set for Tuesday

Godwin Hulse

The Services Commission hearing for Sharon Neal, Erwin Robinson and Omar Phillips is set for Tuesday. There were reports that Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse would be attending the hearing, but apparently he will not be able to do so. Today, Hulse told us that his presence there has been perceived as too intimidating. But he says it is likely not a matter of intimidation, but the fact that he would be forced to tell the truth.

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Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration

“I hoped I would have been there, but I have gotten a letter from the Commission saying that I am not supposed to put there. It is a question that has been put to the SolGen for reasons unknown. I am understanding—and this is via rumors and I don’t like rumors—that the attorneys for the people think that I am an intimidating figure. All of you know me; do I look intimidating? But what is true, what is true—and I will say this categorically—whether I am there or not, none of the officers can ever use the excuse that they had pressure from a minister. Let me tell you this and please put it on tonight’s news. On Thursday the fifth of September at four-o-five exactly, I had Miss Marin, the Director—or the deputy, but she is holding director—the C.E.O., Misses Candelaria Saldivar, and Miss Sharon Neal in my office. The reason was, Miss Marin was going on a few days leave and would have returned on the Wednesday. So I brought Miss Neal in to make sure that she understood that she had my full, unequivocal support. Indeed in that discussion she said, Minister I am relieved because I wouldn’t want to have to put…and I said Miss Neal, if it is God, if it is the Prime Minister, if it is no matter who it is ever comes with you with any nonsense including Minister Penner, please call me. I didn’t say brace them; I said call me and I will forthwith deal with it. And Miss Marin said I can support that because whenever I’ve called the minister with anything—and yes there are many who go to immigration and say man unu noh di do unu work, please bring this. She call me and say…I say Miss Marin, brakes the minister and I will deal with him in cabinet. And so she says I can assure you Miss Neal, you have the minister’s support. Ever officer knows that; Miss Pacheco knows that, Mister Wade knows that; every officer. So there is no excuse that there is pressure from any minister because all they had to do was call me and they knew that. And perhaps that is the intimidating presence that the attorneys don’t want me to be because I will say that. but I have now said it on media.”

According to Hulse, attorneys representing Nationality Section Officers Ady Pacheco and Gordon Wade have responded to Director of Immigration Maria Marin, informing her that they have no case to answer.