Collymore claims GUY$2 million due to “unlawful” dismissal

Last Updated on Wednesday, 5 August 2015, 0:53 by GxMedia

Clinton Collymore, who, in May, was relieved of his duties as Advisor to the then Minister of Local Government, has moved to the court to claim G$2,744,587 which he says is owed to him as a result of his “unlawful” dismissal.

According to court documents seen by this news outlet, Former Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall, will be representing Collymore, in association with Attorneys-at-law Euclin Gomes, Sase Gunraj and Manoj Narayan. The current AG, Basil Williams, has been named the defendant, as the state’s representative.

The matter is set to be heard in the Commercial Court on September 16^th, 2015.

Back in May, Collymore was dismissed after he reportedly failed to report for work for a prolonged period and did not submit a medical. In a letter to Collymore, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the former Local Government Ministry had told Collymore that “since management did not hear from you by way of telephone or any other form of communication, we deem your absence from work as representing voluntary termination.”

The letter also informed the former advisor that due the conditions of his termination he has effectively “forfeited all your benefits.”

 According to the Writ of Summons seen by this news outlet, Nandlall wrote the ministry following Collymore’s dismissal informing the Permanent Secretary that Collymore’s contract ensured him employment in the named port folio for a “fixed term of one (1) year from 2014-09-04 to 2015-09-03 determinable by one (1) month’s notice in writing or one (1) month’s salary in lieu of such notice.”

The letter further informed the Deputy Permanent Secretary that “your dismissal of my client as well as the forfeiture of his benefits are unlawful,” and threatened legal action unless Collymore was paid G$2,744,587, in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, 1997.

Nandlall’s letter, however, reportedly never received a response and Collymore has opted to move to the court to claim the amount. He is also claiming “interest as the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of filing to the date of judgment and thereafter at the rate of four percent (4%) per annum until fully paid,” as well as costs amounting to G$7,049.