CTUSAB cautions against bias, blanket appointments under public service law

The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) urged the government to guard against political influence and arbitrary promotions in implementing the new Public Service Appointments Act, warning that delays and favouritism could erode confidence and fairness in the civil service.

Speaking at a press conference at CTUSAB’s Garrison headquarters on Wednesday, General Secretary Dennis de Peiza welcomed the bill but warned that appointments must adhere to merit-based principles.

“The Congress, however strongly, contends that where public officers are eligible for appointment to the public service, that this process should not be unduly delayed,” he told reporters. “Neither should the entitlement of an appointment appear to take the form of a political gift, or that of patronage.”

De Peiza noted that some public officers may have exited the service due to long delays in receiving appointments.

“CTUSAB contends that the distinct possibility exists that some eligible public officers may not, or that they may have exited the system for whatever reasons prior to the announcement, and they would have been denied the opportunity to be able to be appointed,” he said.

Under the new law, public servants employed for three years or more — whether in temporary, established, or acting positions — are eligible for appointment, notwithstanding some provisions of the Constitution of Barbados and the Public Service Act.

De Peiza described the formalisation of appointments for eligible officers as “a significant victory for the labour movement. The congress congratulates the 1 170 temporary employees who met the eligibility requirements and the 925 officers currently serving in acting positions who will be formally promoted to their substantive posts”.

He stressed that public service appointments and promotions must follow the established framework overseen by the Director General of Human Resources in the Ministry of the Public Service. 

“This relates to recruitment, selection, placement and transfer, appointment, promotion, discipline and retirement, training and development of personnel within the public service of Barbados,” de Peiza said. “This congress does not support the blanket approach as adopted in this instance, to the appointment of public officers on the grounds that it can possibly ignore the application of the principle of meritocracy, whereby positions might be filled based on connections or party loyalty, rather than on qualifications, experience and suitability.” 

“CTUSAB is adamant that it is important to maintain confidence in the system and the practice by ensuring that the core values of integrity, impartiality, effectiveness, equity and accountability are observed.”

The union umbrella also raised concerns about officers who served for several years in senior acting positions, only to be deemed unsuitable at interview and reverted to lower posts. De Peiza said such reversions could severely affect salaries, morale, and confidence in the public service.

He said: “We have heard of several instances where persons who are in acting positions in the public service are being reverted to their substantive posts. How can a person serve in a senior position?” 

“Some people have served three years here in one department or two and then sent to another department at that same higher level. So a person might spend as much as six or nine years serving in your senior capacity, which means they are in the scale. And then when a vacancy becomes available, and that person goes right to the interview, they’re told that they’re not suitable.”

He suggested that these reversions appear punitive rather than merit-based: “If it isn’t based on performance, then it has to only be punitive, because if persons have not been given a performance plan to work and improve, then it tells me that the action is punitive, and something that should not be condoned has to be raised, put in the public domain, and stop those people who are perpetrating these injustices on workers. And those who sit quietly by the corner and say nothing need to get up and represent the people.”

CTUSAB President Ryan Phillips also highlighted the potential long-term impact on productivity and institutional capacity: “Some years ago we had something called NICE. If you look back and you think, and you look at productivity, then apart from where we were headed to and where we are now, then it is obvious. It ought to be obvious to every Barbadian that we need to get back there.”

CTUSAB further warned that continued delays or unfair practices could drive skilled officers out of the public service, weakening institutional capacity and service delivery.