Regional Chairman of Region 10, Renis Morian, has jumped to the defence of the recently dismissed supervisor of the Kwakwani Hostel, calling her removal a great injustice, and offering to take up her case.
A release from the region related that Morian, during this month’s statutory meeting of the Council, expressed great disapproval at the manner in which the supervisor, Rockell Bailey, was “unilaterally” dismissed from her position by acting Regional Education Officer (REdO) Sonia Fraser, unbeknownst to the Council. It was reported that she was replaced within a day’s notice, without a hearing or being served a letter of dismissal.
Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Maylene Stephens, during the Council’s meeting, had related that Bailey’s firing came after Fraser took an application for the new supervisor to the Personnel Department, and it was decided there and then to fire Bailey and employ a replacement immediately.
She further noted that the Department sought advice from the Public Service Commission and was given permission to proceed with the new supervisor’s employment.
After enquiries from Morian, the DREO noted that the Minister and her Permanent Secretary (PS) after being informed of the matter, agreed that it was unfairly and unprofessionally dealt with, and the PS has since instructed the administration to meet with Bailey to inform her formally of the dismissal and provide her with a month’s notice.
“I want to say that the placement of staff should not be news to this council. I want to sound it clear to administration and education. This council here oversees everything that happens here and on behalf when council is out of session, the Regional Chairman fits in for Councillors and updates Councillors. Staff moving and going and coming must not be news to this council, I must not come here and hear that a staff was sent, a staff had to go and this Council didn’t hear so I am asking that this practice stop from today. This council manages the affairs of this region,” Morian stated.
He emphasised that what was done to Bailey was a disservice and questioned whether officers within the region are aware of the education regulations and act, noting that there is a process that must be followed when seeking to terminate services.
Furthermore, Morian noted that it was not within the remit of the ministry to make such a call, and opined that Fraser should be held responsible for the decision.
“We have persons taking on powers that are not theirs because you are the head of the administration and is therefore responsible for staff, the chairman or the council was not consulted or made aware. However, let me say this now, find a job immediately…because she was unfairly dismissed because the council will take up her case and will be coming after the people at education and those at administration,” he declared.
“We have done this woman a great injustice and this government don’t work like that because we are not a cowboy administration where you just knock off someone because you feel like and let me say this I am going to write about this because education has certainly acted outside of their remit. You still have to take some licks because you are at the end of the day responsible for staff in this region and even if you saw the letter after you should have intervened,” Morian directed to the DREO.
