Educator Alwyn Babb who was sent on half pay for six months for contesting the January 19 General Election on a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) ticket has asked for his full salary to be restored immediately.
However, Babb who indicated that he was willing and ready to return to work said the Ministry of Civil Service sending him on leave for running for the St Peter seat will not deter him from returning to the race in the future.
He hoped that the decision to send him on leave was not politically motivated.
“If you know me, I have travelled the world. I have been to Russia and I have gone into the warm-up area with some of the top coaches and athletes. I am not deterred. This is just another hurdle and that’s my specialty, so that don’t deter me. In fact, I have become more aggressive in terms of achieving what I believe is right,” Babb said.
Speaking to the media during a health fair at the party’s George Street Auditorium, Belleville, St Michael headquarters, on Friday, Babb said he was experiencing financial challenges due to his salary being slashed.
In April, Babb, along with former President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Pedro Shepherd received letters from the Ministry of Civil Service sending them on leave and notifying them that they will be required to attend a disciplinary hearing before a panel.
Babb attended at least two disciplinary hearing sessions at the Ministry of Civil Service on Culloden Road, St Michael, with his representative trade unionist Caswell Franklyn.
Barbados TODAY understands that Shepherd is still awaiting his first hearing, as Babb awaits word on what will happen next with his case.
“We are all Barbadians. We can’t in any society support any one person, that is not democracy and I believe that our constitution gives everybody the right to be associated,” Babb said.
DLP President Dr Ronnie Yearwood said the party was throwing its full support behind its members.
Dr Yearwood said the time has come for the provisions of the General Orders Act to be looked at to see that these are “archaic provisions” and they have no place in a modern Barbados where everyone should have a democratic right to freely participate, represent and run for whatever party that they choose to do so.
“This is not necessarily only about Babb. This is about Barbadians and this should concern all of us,” Dr Yearwood said.
The party president added: “There is detail to be looked at and we have to dig into the weeds. There is an argument that the acts that were applied to them should not have been applied because they actually don’t. But others would argue that is not the case. So these are things for tribunals and courts to look into. I would not prejudice any case by, at this point, giving my particular opinion”.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
