Minister Hulse Says He Cannot Confront Interfere In Commission’S Activities

Godwin Hulse

Three passport officers are still on suspension for their alleged involvement in the Won Hong Kim passport scandal. There has been no public disclosure of evidence against them, or indeed of their particular roles, but they were sent on suspension less than two weeks after the scandal broke. Those public officers, Sharon Neal, Erwin Robinson and Omar Phillips are currently on half-pay awaiting the decision of the Public Service Commission on their fates. The Public Service Union has stated that the prolonged suspension at half-pay is against the Commission regulations, and those public officers should be reinstated immediately. That complaint is also before the Commission. Today Godwin Hulse told News Five that while the situation may be unfair, he cannot interfere in the Commission’s activities.

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Labour

“That is before the commission, we are urging as best as we can even through his medium for the commission to act with dispatch because it is unfair to have people in limbo so to speak. But we don’t control the commission. Just to make it crystal clear, when any department head finds that there is any infraction or any activity within their department that they think warrants that person going before the commission, they have the responsibility to write the person first to say that this is what has happened, that is what have happened; could you afford an explanation. Dependent on the explanation then the director, or the head of that department in the case the director of immigration, but she is the head of that department then goes to the commission and says well we think we have a case, could you look at it? And that is where that really is. That is the process. The minister doesn’t really get involved in it at all. So that is for the commission; that is for the director. And after reviewing all the occurrences that took place within the immigration department, she came to the conclusion that these people should give an explanation as to why certain things have happened. Dependent on that explanation then, they go to the punishment.”

Reporter

“So up until the decision is made, do they continue receiving half salary or what’s their position?”

Godwin Hulse

“Yes, in the case of those there people, yes they are on half salary and of course if the commission exonerates them, they get their back pay and they go back.”