Fate of Lightbourne's staff uncertain
Published:Friday | July 1, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
PERMANENT SECRETARY in the Ministry of Justice, Robert Rainford, says he is awaiting a legal opinion from Solicitor General Douglas Leys to determine whether the jobs of five contract workers assigned to outgoing Minister Dorothy Lightbourne will be axed.
Despite a denial yesterday by Rainford that the ministry has issued termination letters to the contracted staff who worked with Lightbourne, The Gleaner has obtained a copy of a letter dated June 29 confirming a June 30 termination date for at least one of the employees.
"This serves to advise that your contract will be terminated with effect from June 30, 2011.
"This is in accordance with the terms and conditions of your engagement which states that 'the Government may at any time terminate your engagement by giving you one month's salary in lieu of notice'. Accordingly, you will be paid one month's salary in lieu of notice and any vacation leave to your credit," a section of the letter read.
A source informed The Gleaner that termination letters were hastily withdrawn yesterday.
But in an earlier interview, Rainford said: "We have not terminated any contract workers."
However, the permanent secretary suggested that job cuts were being contemplated.
"There are persons who are assigned to the minister outside of the ministry, those are the persons who are being looked at whenever there is a change of minister," he explained.
"We are getting advice from the solicitor general," Rainford said.
Reviewing matter
He told The Gleaner that Leys was reviewing the matter and a determination as to what course of action would be made.
Indicating that it was a tradition for an incoming minister to select his personal staff, Rainford noted that the new minister would decide whether to retain the staff who worked with Lightbourne.
"We are making sure that from a legal perspective, we are not in any breach, that is what we are making sure of right now," he added.
On Tuesday night, Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced a reshuffling of his Cabinet, dropping Lightbourne from the line-up and naming House Speaker Delroy Chuck as her replacement in the justice ministry. Golding is yet to name an attorney general.
Chuck, who has been overseas, is to be sworn in shortly.