FEB 07

The Public Workers Union (PWU) is calling on Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell to make available to the union those incidents of widespread corruption in the public service.

During a recent meeting with Heads of Department, Permanent Secretaries and the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Prime Minister announced that government plans to implement Integrity Legislation to deal with incidents of widespread corruption among public officers.

The PWU reacted to the charge at a press conference held by its President, Madonna Harford, as well as Second Vice President Dr. Winston Thomas and Secretary Rae Roberts.
Harford called on Dr. Mitchell to make available to the union any information or evidence in his possession of widespread corruption in the Public Service.

She told reporters that the statement which alluded to corruption being "widespread" and rampant" in the service gives the impression that more than eighty percent of the public service is involved in corruption and that the vast majority of workers are not managing their Ministries and Departments effectively.

"Those statements, if correct, would constitute a serious indictment on those who are paid to manage the business of the State", she said. According to Harford since the PWU represents the majority of public officers in the country it decided to conduct its own investigation into the matter before taking a decision to respond to the claims made by the Grenadian leader.

The former Permanent Secretary said that the PWU's own investigation revealed that in 2003, there were only a few cases of petty fraud in the public service and that the majority of ministries reported having no cases of either petty fraud or corruption.

"One senior manager admitted that there was one case of alleged corruption involving a public officer and that matter was presently before the court", she remarked.

She said that another manager reported that a few questionable matters were noticed but no firm cases of corruption were detected. Harford indicated a few cases of suspected corruption were reported to the relevant authority for necessary action to be taken against the suspects.

"PWU is very disturbed that such generalised statements were made which could have serious implications both for the public officer and for the nation", she said.

Harford stressed that the statement made by Dr. Mitchell could result in funding agencies, donor organisations and friendly countries wanting to rethink their relations with Grenada since they attach great importance to accountability and transparency in their offers of assistance to the island. "Further, the statements made can have serious effects on the morale and image of the public service and especially public servants.

The union therefore considers it unfair and unwarranted on the part of those concerned to make statements of that nature", she added. The female PWU boss pointed out that corruption is neither widespread nor rampant in the Grenada Public Service among public officers and that those with information to the contrary should bring it to the attention of the union.

She said that if none is forthcoming then Prime Minister Mitchell and all others who make such allegations should apologise to public officers.

"As a union, we consider it part of our responsibility to ensure that corrupt practices are eradicated from the public service as well as the society", she said.

"The union is satisfied that the majority of public officers are honest and hard-working. We therefore see an attempt at using the same brush on the minute few to tarnish the image of the majority as unfair, unreasonable and irresponsible", she added.