The Ministry of Tourism, Indus-try and Commerce yesterday said it was forced to call the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to remove former Permanent Secretary (PS) Karen Van Sluytman-Corbin after she refused to accept her recent reassignment and vacate her former office, all of which she has disputed.
Van Sluytman-Corbin was informed of her reassignment last Friday.
When contacted by Stabroek News, Van Sluytman-Corbin declined to give a detailed comment on the episode but indicated that a live video shared by local media house Capitol News accurately captured the events.
In the video, she explained that after being reassigned to the position of “Chief Administrative Officer” on the afternoon of October 9, she entered the ministry building yesterday to remove her personal effects from her former office.
On arriving she found that the locks had been changed and sought an audience with Minister Oneidge Walrond, who indicated that she would not be able to retrieve her personal belongings for at least two weeks.
Asked how she felt about her treatment, Van Sluytman-Corbin declined to comment.
She, however, noted that as a public servant she had the same aspiration as every other public servant “to move up to the highest public service post and be treated justly and fairly.”
She later stressed to Stabroek News that she has never been on contract and she was not a political appointee. “I’m a public servant,” she indicated.
However, in a statement released yesterday, the Ministry reminded that several new Per-manent Secretaries were appointed on October 8, 2020. One of these is Sharon Roopchand-Edwards who has been assigned to manage the affairs of this ministry.
“Mrs. Van Sluytman-Corbin was informed of her reassignment on Friday, October 9, while still at the office. Specifically, Mrs. Van Sluytman-Corbin was advised of her re-assigned position, job description, and place of work, which is the Sophia Exhibition Centre,” the ministry explained.
It added that after being notified of her reassignment, Van Sluytman-Corbin indicated to the minister that she would not vacate the office of Permanent Secretary or accept reassignment. “It is in this context that Mrs. Van Sluytman-Corbin’s reporting to work on October 12 at the Ministry’s premises on South Road…must be interpreted. [She] refused to leave the premises, and it was at this time, the police were requested to assist in escorting her therefrom,” the ministry said.
As a result of the development, the ministry said Van Sluytman-Corbin requested to see the minister and indicated that she wished to remove personal items from the office. The ministry added that permission to remove personal items under supervision was promptly given, and Van Sluytman-Corbin secured same before exiting the building.
“Mrs. Van Sluytman-Corbin remains a member of the MinTIC team, and we look forward to a productive working relationship,” it added.
Van Sluytman-Corbin has held several posts over four decades in the public service. Media reports on her achievements note that in her capacity as Assistant Chief Labour Officer, she was instrumental in the development of National Child Labour Policy. She has also served as a member of the Women and Gender Equality Commission.
As an active trade unionist, the former Permanent Secretary had challenged longstanding President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde for the post.
She was first appointed as PS of the Department of Public Service following the 2018 retirement of Reginald Brotherson and was transferred in 2019 to the Ministry of Business following the retirement of Rajdai Jagarnauth.
The position of Permanent Secretary is listed on the “Inventory of Authorized positions” for which appointment should come through the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Specifically Article 201 (1) of the Constitution states that subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the power to make appointments to public offices and to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices shall vest in the Public Service Commission.
Additionally PS is listed as approved public sector posts in the 2020 budget with a remunerations at the General Salary Scale 14. Chief Administrative Officer is not a listed public service post.
The closest approved post is that of “Administrative Officer” with approved remunerations at a General Salary Scale 9.
The former PS has, however, been informed that her reassignment carries “terms no less favourable than that of Permanent Secretary.”
