Government to file response in ‘PSC order’ court case

Last Updated on Friday, 19 June 2015, 20:30 by GxMedia

Junior Minister of Social Protection, Simona Broomes.

by Zena Henry

The lawyer for Junior Minister of Social Protection, Simona Broomes is expected to file a response against the court challenge opposing an alleged order that she gave to the Public Service Commission (PSC) concerning the appointment of persons to the newly formed ministry.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) candidate, Attorney – at – Law Euclin Gomes, more than a week ago moved to the High Court, via his lawyer, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall seeking declarations that the PSC is not to be subjected to the direction or control of any other person or authority in the execution of its responsibility. He is seeking, “that a letter dated the 28th of May, 2015, directed to the Secretary of the (PSC), by Ms. Broomes advising that the PSC cease operations until instructed otherwise by the President…is in violation of Article 226 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is unlawful, null, void and of no legal effect.”

The matter was called before Chief Justice Ian Chang at the High Court Wednesday June 17 where representative for Broomes, Attorney General Basil Williams requested leave to file an affidavit in answer to Gomes’ charges. The matter will be called again on June 24.

Broomes in her letter to the PSC said it was brought to her attention, clandestine efforts to fill vacancies within the Public Service and more particularly the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (now Ministry of Social Protection and “advised that all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to cease forthwith until further instructed by his Excellency…”

Broomes claimed that her letter came as staffers had shown panic when a person waiting to be interviewed for a job at the ministry was singled out from the lot of persons who were also seeking to interviewed. She said the staffs were afraid that the person was being handpicked and that they would not get a fair chance to access the job.

The PSC is an independent body that deals with State workers and operates under Article 120 of the Constitution.