5 days ago
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The President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers, has strongly objected to the proposed appointment of Police Constable Jhawn Gamboa as the new Assistant Chief Transport Officer. Flowers’ concerns follow an interview aired on Friday with Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Transportation Chester Williams and Chief Transport Officer Leon Gentle. During that interview, the senior officials discussed the selection process and indicated that no existing employee within the ministry had expressed an interest in filling the vacant post. However, Flowers argues that a reported lack of internal interest does not give the ministry authority to bypass the appointment procedures established under the Public Service Regulations. He maintains that the vacancy should be properly advertised and all eligible public officers given a fair opportunity to apply before any candidate is selected. Flowers says the issue goes beyond the individual being considered and raises broader concerns about transparency, fairness and equal access to opportunities within the public service.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “Since the airing of the interview of both the Chief Executive Officer as well as that of the Chief Transport Officer, I wish to put on record that I have received several submissions from public officers within the Department of Transport, ranging from different ranks, really and truly suggesting that they are in complete disagreement with some of the pronouncements made by the Chief Executive Officer in the Department of Transport and the Chief Transport Officer himself. First and foremost, it must be stated that the vacancy notice that went out for those positions were internal postings. Meaning that in accordance with the recruitment and selection manual, when a vacancy arises it ought to be published internally. The CEO ought to look internally to identify public officers within that department that may have the requisite qualifications, experience and skills required to assume a higher post. If you look at the vacancy notices that they speak of, those notices were for internal purposes. They were not meant for external applicants. And so when I look at the vacancies that were published the Corporal in question had no business applying because it was not an externally published vacancy. So he ought not to have been shortlisted. Even under the current vacancy, the Corporal of Police does not qualify because he does not have experience as a Senior Transport Officer or as a transport officer for that matter. So how did he get short listed, how was an interview conducted with him I don’t know about there is clear breach of the established procedures and this is the politicization of the public service that I keep speaking about not of course suggesting that the Corporal was politically appointed but it’s the political corruption of how we recruit within the public service that would have caused him to be considered. Who I want, and I wish to put on record that that corporal is a personal acquaintance of mine. I consider his father a personal friend of mine. We went to school together and so it’s not personal here. It’s simply speaking about the issue and I need to make that clear because people like to politicize issues and they like to personalize issues and I want to say that that corporal has a lot of respect for me and I have a whole lot of respect for him.”
The PSU president is calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that any appointment to the post is conducted through the proper channels. The controversy also carries a familial dimension. Gamboa is Williams’ brother-in-law. During Friday’s interview, Williams openly discussed his preference for Gamboa, pointing to the police officer’s qualifications and experience as reasons he believes Gamboa would be suited for the position.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “I want to say that the Public Services Commission ought not to consider that recommendation and the Public Service Commission should cause the Department of Transport to look internally with all those officers who have 10, 15, 20 years under their belt. They might not have a bachelor’s degree in English but they have the knowledge, the experience and the know-how of how law enforcement is supposed to be applied. If it is that their capacity needs to be built from an administrative standpoint then it is the duty of the Chief Transport Officer and the Chief Executive Officer to identify professional development courses to help them bring them up to that skill set that is required from an administrative standpoint. It is not everybody that needs to have an Associates or a Bachelor’s. That does not mean that they will be able to function, especially when you are dealing with these technical positions. You want people with experience, knowledge and know how, and experience as I stated earlier as to how the department is supposed to function properly.”
For further context, here is an excerpt from Friday’s interview with the Chief Transport Officer, Leon Gentle, noting that the selection is yet to be finalized.
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “The process has not even completed as yet. What happens is that when the vacancies went out all members of the department were given an opportunity to apply for the different positions that we are looking for. We had open interviews for transport officers in the different districts. We had also opened positions for Assistant Chief Transport officer, which would be a regional commander for our department in looking at different zones to carry out the functions to make sure that they carry out their functions under the department’s mandate. And Mr. Zhawn Gamboa was one of those applicants who applied for the Assistant Chief Transport Office of Position. There were two applicants and we have looked through the application, gone through the full interview process and we believe that he’s one of those persons who are fit for the position.”
Reporter: What’s the timeline? When would he be appointed if he is chosen?
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “Well that’s a decision for the Ministry of Public Service who then would give us that approval, so we have to wait on their time.”
Reporter: Why did you all need a new deputy?
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “The staff is increasing. There’s a number of positions that are now being opened and we do need overall supervision for everybody. It’s impossible for one deputy to be able to deal with the entire staff as it is. So our objective is to look at a deputy from an administrative standpoint and a deputy from an enforcement standpoint.”
According to the union, it will continue monitoring the matter as it develops./
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