Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley has suggested that the move by Government to appoint hundreds of workers on October 1, could be linked to the upcoming by-election in St George North.
He made the comment moments after Attorney General Dale Marshall disclosed that temporary public servants and those acting in positions for three years or more as of October 1, 2020, would be appointed.
While making it clear he was not opposing the move to appoint workers, Atherley queried the timing of the move.
Two weeks ago Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Gline Clarke, the BLP’s member of Parliament for St George North would be vacating the post on September 30.
While a date for the by-election has not been given, the Constitution dictates that it must be held within 90 days after the day on which Clarke demits office.
“There is, as with many things, this coincidence of timing. Now the Attorney General told us that the Public Service Act of 2007 was brought here just on the eve of the 2008 election, short months before. It was brought here in a state of imperfection and perfection was not even sought for. It was simply brought here towards the end of 2007, the months before a pending election.
“I am not ascribing motive. I am speaking to the coincidences of timing. I was over there when that measure was brought to the Chamber and would have supported it because it purported to express itself in the interest of public servants in Barbados. I am therefore not ascribing any motive of any sort to that motive in 2007,” Atherley explained.
“I am simply pointing to the coincidence of timing because…there is an election exercise in Barbados, particularly in the constituency of St George North. So we have a matter like this being brought in this way, using the mechanism of this Parliament to ensure that it is achieved on the eve of a by-election in St George North and indeed in the mind of some, on the eve of a general election in Barbados not too far down the road. I’m speaking about coincidence in timing.”
The Opposition Leader said having been in office for over two years, Government had more than enough time to appoint public servants.
However, he said Government was now rushing to now appoint persons in quick order and not by way of the usual procedure.
“If you reflect that the Public Service Act of 2007 passed in this Parliament several years back and in the intervening period between then and now we have another administration in office, and if you describe that administration of being unable or unwilling to put into effect what was intended in the 2007 legislation, then we come to a place where we have to ask ourselves, ‘what of the last two years and a half?’
“What has transpired over the last two and a half years that we have not been able to achieve that which was intended in 2007 using the normal mechanisms of appointment?” Atherley questioned. randybennett@barbadostoday.bb
