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Another senior civil servant is taking legal action against the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government but this time for wrongful dismissal from the state-run Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD).

Informed legal sources told GRENADA TODAY that former Consul General to New York, Janice Celestine has instructed her lawyers to take action against ARD for her dismissal as Executive Assistant on February 8 by Chief Executive Officer, Richardson Andrews, the Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister.

According to a well-placed source, Celestine who is now working with the Ministry of Sports has instructed a lawyer from a leading law firm in St. George's to take legal action for her summary dismissal. The lawyer has reportedly decided to institute legal proceedings due to the failure of ARD to respond to letters sent to them seeking an explanation for Celestine's dismissal.

A letter dated March 14 from the lawyer and addressed to the Chairman of the agency charged that Celestine has never received the type of treatment now handed down to her in over 23 years of service as a civil servant. The letter said: "The summary dismissal of our client, in all the circumstances, was unwarranted, unfair, unjust, contrary to the basic principles of natural justice and due process, smacks of discrimination and amounts to a breach of contract". "As a result of the foregoing, our client has suffered distress, inconvenience, loss and expense and intends to pursue her plentitude of legal and other rights to ensure that she receives due justice", it added.

Celestine's troubles with the Mitchell government started while at the island's Consulate to New York when she allegedly refused to sign documents for government to take control of funds raised for Grenada in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

Government was trying to take charge of the funds which was being claimed by a group that was formed by Grenadians living in New York to raise funds to help the relief effort in their homeland. The move by the law firm to file legal proceedings comes against the backdrop of a statement made in Parliament last Thursday by Prime Minister Mitchell in response to a question from the opposition on the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Celestine from the agency (click here for response at end of this article).

"....It was decided that the Agency would no longer pursue the request for the secondment of Ms. Celestine. Arrangements for signing of the contract had not been formalized so it's not true to say that Ms. Celestine was dismissed", Dr. Mitchell told parliament (click here). This statement contradicts sharply with the Andrews letter sent to Celestine ending her tenure at ARD. "....With effect from ...8th February 2005, the Agency will no longer require your services. Accordingly, benefits due to you have been calculated and a cheque is included.All articles and documents whether print or digital, belonging to the Agency should be surrendered", Andrews told Celestine.

According to legal sources, Celestine also informed her lawyers about statements made to her by Richardson prior to handing her the letter terminating her stint at the agency.

"You (Celestine) would not be comfortable in the Agency and therefore I have to terminate your services with immediate effect", Andrews reportedly told Celestine. Information has also surfaced to suggest that Prime Minister Mitchell might have misled parliament in his claim that there was no formal reply from PSC for Celestine to be seconded to work with ARD.

This newspaper was informed that Celestine has in her possession a letter from the commission releasing her from the service for a one-year period to take up the position at the agency. Celestine joins a list of senior civil servants who have taken legal action against the Mitchell government or one of its agencies for summary dismissal since the ruling New National Party (NNP) government came to office in June 1995. The list includes former Director of Budget, Richard Duncan, ex-Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Brian Francis, and sacked Director of Audit, Julia Lawrence among others.

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