Published on 17 August 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and News Source
MP Liburd to PM Harris: “stop the undermining and abuse of public officers”
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 17TH 2017 – A call for St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris to stop the undermining and abuse of senior public officers.
Chairperson of the opposition St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP), Ms. Marcella Liburd laid the charges citing several instances during Wednesday’s Issues programme on Freedom 106.5 FM and Kyss 102.5 FM.
Ms. Liburd accused Prime Minister Harris of calling junior civil servants to give reports on senior officers in several government ministries and departments
“The senior civil servants are then called in to respond to the reports from junior officers. This is totally unacceptable,” said Ms. Liburd, a former speaker and deputy speaker.
She expressed disgust with the habit of the prime minister calling the names of public officers during debates in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly and at his press conferences.
“He sent out press releases from his office this week, calling the names of public servants and quoting them on the controversial Public Accounts Committee Bill,” said Ms. Liburd.
The Office of the Prime Minister issued a press release dated August 14th in which he (Dr. Harris) claims were quotes from the Accountant General, Mr. Levi Bradshaw.
Another press release from the Office of the Prime Minister dated August 15th, Dr. Harris also claims that the Acting Director of Audit, Mrs. Carla Pyke, made certain quotes to him.
“Dr. Harris is a desperate man. This is a sign of desperation. It is wrong. It is an abuse of his power and an abuse of public servants. They are also called and made to support his positions,” said Ms. Liburd, who was also critical of Prime Minister Harris’ mandatory edict that public servants must sit in on his press conferences.
“They are called and directed to attend these so-called press conferences. Instead of allowing them to remain at their desks to perform the tasks that they are being paid to do, they are directed to go to the prime minister’s press conferences to be in the audience. It is all about Timothy Harris. This is an abuse of power and indeed an abuse of our public servants,” said Liburd.
“Your rights as civil servants are being abused. It is a blatant abuse of power on our civil servants by Prime Minister Harris,” she told listeners.
At his press conference ministers of government, permanent secretaries, heads of department, the Police High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, ambassadors and other senior public servants fill the Parliamentary Lounge where the press conferences are held.
“He has a habit of even answering the questions posed to ministers, the police seemingly in an effort to restrict certain information,” said one observer.
“We want to know when Integrity in Public Life Act/Bill and others will be passed, plus the land for debt returned and sold to the nationals. No more darn bull bout the party,” responded Merlyn Saunders on the SKNIS Facebook page when the last press conference was announced.
Photo – Hon. Marcella Liburd
