High drama at Labour Department
News just into Virgin Islands News Online is that Commissioner of Labour Oleanvine Maynard's vacation time (December, 15, 2011 to February, 15, 2012) ended as per her letter of last year to proceed on leave.
With her vacation time expired, the Labour Commissioner reported to work yesterday February 15, but was reportedly humiliated when no one was expecting her to show up at the Labour Department. It was alleged that her office was locked and the Ag. Commissioner of Labour Janice Rymer and her Personal Assistant had returned to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.
It was then reported that Mrs. Maynard allegedly waited in the public seating area and at times in the General office until she received a call from Mr. Ronald Smith-Berkeley, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, who reportedly told her that he had a letter for her but allegedly “could not reach her.”
The letter was reportedly dated February 9, 2012 requesting that Mrs. Maynard continue her leave. Calls to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour yesterday, February 15, 2012 about the matter, were not successful as we were told that Mr. Smith-Berkeley is overseas. It was unclear whether the PS was on official business or otherwise, or who was in charge in his absence.
This news site understands that the Labour Commissioner returned home after receiving the letter and speaking with the PS. Two civil servants spoke to this news site on condition of anonymity, with one stating: “this situation was shameful and a disgrace for a head of a department to be treated in that way, when the very Labour Department is the place where the public goes to for unfair treatment at the work place.”
The other officer who has been in the civil service for 21 years asked: "Where are the Governor and the Deputy Governor? … who is in charge of the service? It has gone to the dogs?”
It was also reported that it was possible for a paper to have been on the agenda of the Public Service Commission earlier this week for the extension of the acting commissioner’s appointment of Mrs. Janice Rymer who is the Deputy Secretary in the same Ministry. However, it remains unclear for how long.
Hon. Pickering: “I am the reason Maynard is out”!
At a community meeting held on January 19, 2012 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre, the always candid Dr. the Honorable Kedrick Pickering told the packed centre that he was the reason why Mrs. Maynard is out and took full responsibility.
The Deputy Premier reported that there were too many complaints pointing in the direction of the Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard which prompted him to have her replaced.
He told the audience last month that he highlighted the issues to his Cabinet colleagues and admitted it was his decision to have Maynard removed.
“I took the responsibility as the Minister. I brought it to my colleagues [and said] look this is the situation, we got too many complaints…if I am to move forward, I have to make a decision to move the Labour Commissioner. I take full responsibility for it,” Dr. Pickering had disclosed.
His statement was received with a loud applause, however, the Minister failed to disclose the nature of the complaints.
Hon. Pickering first indicated the changes in the Labour Department on December 19, 2011 during a House of Assembly statement, weeks after it was firstly and accurately reported by this news site. He had stated that the Department that is responsible for the Labour force in the Territory will be restructured for greater efficiency starting from the top.
Following the election last year of the National Democratic Party Government of Dr. D. Orlando Smith to office, there have been many high level public sector shake ups, transfers, extended leaves and termination.
All these movements have all been firstly and accurately reported by this news site, despite the very failed attempt by some elected officials to suggest that the information as reported was “misleading” or “malicious”, which would have been if, as they described, a serious violation of this news site's high ethical standards, practices and polices.
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