Deputy Governor Franz Manderson dismissed as “incorrect,” what he termed “media conversations” which suggested that civil servants’ contracts restrict government workers from reporting matters to the police or other official reporting bodies.
He made it clear “our workplace rules both allow and encourage the reporting of wrongdoing”.
His response follows social media discussions surrounding the allegations levelled against a senior sitting Member of Parliament who has been accused of assaulting two female civil servants at a cocktail reception on Tuesday 13 Sept. – part of the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference at The Ritz-Carlton.
“I will continue to exercise duty of care for all civil servants and will not abrogate my responsibility to provide a safe work environment where they feel cared for, protected and comfortable giving feedback including to senior leaders,” Manderson said in a statement Friday afternoon.
Police, in a statement on 14 Sept., confirmed it had opened an investigation into the allegations saying officers “will interview both women to ascertain whether a complaint/complaints are to be made. There is no further information available at this time.”
Manderson, who had issued a brief statement to the Compass following the police statement, said, he would “hold any comment until after the police investigation.”
However, he was prompted to issue a further statement clarifying that “Civil Servants [are] Protected and Free to Report Wrongdoing”.
“As Head of the Civil Service, I wish to make it clear that we are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees and protecting their rights, including their right to report wrongdoing. The Civil Service has zero tolerance for misconduct,” he said in the statement.
“The allegations of assault on 13 September are under RCIPS investigation, as confirmed by their statement on 14 September, I am therefore unable to comment further on the matter at this time,” he said in the statement.
The RCIPS, in response to Compass queries requesting an update on the investigation, said, “The investigation is ongoing and we are unable to provide any running commentary.”
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