Civil Service Union Launches Petition Over DG's Conduct

The Union representing civil servants on Montserrat has lodged a complaint with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) over the Governor’s handling of a report of misconduct leveled against the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Lyndell Simpson.

The MCSA’s President Nyota Mulcare said the union brought to the Governor’s attention a matter involving the Deputy Governor where she allegedly confronted a public officer on duty over a personal issue.

The MCSA identified another incident where the Deputy Governor again allegedly attacked a private citizen in public. The union said it believed both incidents constituted a shocking abuse of power by the Head of the Public Service.

In response, the MCSA president outlined a series of demands in a submission to the Governor to, in her words, restore order and honour to the public service. Mrs. Mulcare in her demand letter requested that His Excellency, Governor Andrew Pearce instructs Mrs. Simpson to publish a public apology which was to be aired on Radio Montserrat no later than Wednesday October 23rd or tender her resignation with immediate effect.

The MCSA went on to state that if the Deputy Governor failed to comply with the recommendations, her service from the post should have been terminated with immediate effect. Mrs. Mulcare was reportedly not satisfied with the Governor’s response and has taken the matter further, this time writing to the Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in search of redress. The MCSA has simultaneously launched a petition online in hopes of generating 100 likes to strengthen its case to the FCO.

Up to News time on Thursday October 31st 2019, the petition published on change.org titled ‘Misconduct of the Honourable Deputy Governor of Montserrat’ had received 32 likes.

The accusations of misconduct was first shared in a statement issued by the MSCA to the media on October 22nd 2019.

The MSCA President is now accusing the Governor of abusing his power by instructing Radio Montserrat to remove the statement from its log.

The Governor on Tuesday issued a Press Release stating that he is aware that the President of the Montserrat Civil Service Association has chosen to make public a grievance between two civil servants and has now escalated the matter further by organizing a public petition.

The Governor called the MCSA’s most recent action excessive, aggressive and an unbalanced response to a matter concerning private family issues between the individuals involved. Such matters he said, should be addressed internally through standard public service procedures. The Governor said it was inappropriate for a staff complaint against a public service colleague to be aired in public.

The Governor said he met the President of the MCSA to discuss the matter on October 21st 2019, then received a letter from her the following day, calling for one of the civil servants involved to issue a public apology on national radio and resign or be dismissed within 24 hours.

The Governor replied that day, urging a more balanced and professional approach and setting out what action would be taken. The Governor said contrary to claims made or reiterated by the President of the MCSA, he has never instructed ZJB or any other media entity not to carry or publish material from the President of the MCSA or others.

He said this is a matter for the editorial judgment of the organizations concerned, based on their interpretation of the law. The Governor said he is disappointed at the confrontational and biased behaviour of the President of the MCSA, based on a one sided view of the incident.

The Governor said he is not aware that she has taken steps to hear and understand the perspectives of others concerned, resorting instead to insults and threats. The Governor stated that the President’s handling of this matter does her and the union no credit and has damaged the Governor’s confidence in their professionalism and integrity.

Her Majesty’s Queen Representatives said it was deplorable that the President of the MCSA is choosing to treat another civil servant in this way without any apparent concern for the welfare of the family members involved. The Governor urges the President of the MCSA to consider carefully the integrity and impact of her public statements and claims.