One of the island's most senior civil servants, William Joseph is taking Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell to court.

Joseph has filed papers in the Supreme Court Registry against Dr. Mitchell and four other ministers - Senator Brenda Hood, Clarice Charles, Anthony Boatswain and the Attorney-General.

The mater relates to the manner in which Joseph was treated after he was removed from the post of Director of Tourism and sent back back to the government service. Joseph was sent back as Permanent Secretary in the newly created Ministry of Labour which is staffed by less than ten person.

A copy of the suit filed against Prime Minister Mitchell and others was obtained by this newspaper. It said among other things that Joseph is contending that his appointment to the post in Labour "was improper and unlawful given that no Department of Labour, as intended by the Constitution, was in existence at the material time".

"Additionally, no or no proper procedures had been followed for the creation of the post and no or no proper Vote had been created for the intended Ministry or Department of Labour", the document said.
Joseph is seeking damages from the court "for misfeasance in public office" on the part of the Mitchell government.

Full details of the court action would be carried in next week's issue.