Babb to face disciplinary hearing on Tuesday while Pedro Shepherd will face committee on June 7

Teacher Alwyn Babb who was sent on half pay leave for contesting the January 19 general election is scheduled to attend a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday at the Ministry of Civil Service.

The other teacher who was similarly suspended, Pedro Shepherd, told Barbados TODAY the Ministry also sent him correspondence giving him a June 7 date for his hearing.

However, he declined further comment on the development.

Babb’s letter from the Ministry of Civil Service, People Resourcing and Compliance Directorate, dated May 20, stated that the teacher must attend the meeting with the investigatory committee on May 31.

He was advised that no adjustments of the date would be considered, except in exceptional circumstances.

Babb’s representative, trade unionist Caswell Franklyn, who will be accompanying him to the meeting as his representative, told Barbados TODAY that he was surprised and happy that the disciplinary hearing was called within the prescribed three-month period following the suspension.

“But we are grateful, because Mr Babb wants to get back to work. So, if they prioritise his, it means that there is some special interest driving this. It seems to be a special person, so much so that whoever is driving this has even missed some of the steps that the law requires they go through,” said Franklyn who said he is representing some civil servants who were sent on full-pay leave and have been awaiting a disciplinary hearing for the past five to eight years.

On April 5, 2022, Babb and Shepherd were each sent on half-pay leave for six months for running in the elections on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket.

The two had unsuccessfully contested the St Peter and St Michael South East constituencies, respectively.

They were charged with serious misconduct between January 3 and 19, 2022, because of their participation which was contrary to the General Orders 3.18.1 and in contravention of Paragraph 2 (h) of the Code of Discipline.

However, Franklyn said he would continue to stand his ground that the educators had done nothing wrong in exercising their constitutional right to run as political candidates.

“We will go to the meeting, we will hear what they have to say, and then we will do what we have to do,” he said.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb