1 week ago
5
Tensions are emerging within the Immigration Department as union representation is now being sought on behalf of officers who were recently placed on administrative leave following a series of absences at the country’s western border. Those officers, estimated at between ten and twelve, had submitted medical certificates for their absence, actions which left the border station temporarily short-staffed and raised concerns within the Ministry. While authorities have stopped short of declaring the situation a coordinated sickout or industrial action, the Director of Immigration has confirmed that the matter is under active investigation. In the interim, the affected officers have been placed on administrative leave. The move has now drawn the attention of the Public Service Union, with its president, Dean Flowers, stepping forward to defend the officers. Flowers maintains that the employees followed all established procedures in submitting their sick leave documentation yet were served with warning letters that raise serious concern.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “The prima facie facts that I have looked at suggest that all offices were compliant with Regulation 153, which expressly states and which expressly governs sick leave in the public service. And what that provides for is that there must be the presentation of a medical certificate within a specified time which notifies your supervisor or your superior that you are not well and that you would be away from work or absent from work for a specified period. The facts at this moment demonstrates that in fact all officers were able to satisfy the requirements as expressly is required under that regulation. So it was the duty of the department to verify the authenticity of those certificates. In none of the letters the department is questioning the authenticity of those certificates, which means then that the officers were within their right and acted within the scope of the law and the regulations that governs them. But now based on suspicion and based on feelings, in my humble opinion, the department has then decided that well based on how we feel and based on our suspicion, well we’re going for the kill. We will selectively attack these group of officers and accuse them of sabotage and in another case incitement.”
Flowers also cautioned that the government’s handling of the matter is exposing it to legal consequences, particularly if due process is not upheld in dealing with the affected officers.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “As it relates to the allegations stated in the letter, some very serious allegations are stated in the letter that is being attributed to these officers. The CEO and her director in immigration will have to respond to those allegations, because the facts, as I have seen them, does not point to the allegations that they are making. I believe the letters speak to sabotage and I believe I saw another letter that spoke to incitement. That is something that they’ll have to prove. But currently the facts as I have seen them does not point to that. Even if they suspected something suspicion does not equate grave or gross misconduct or guilt. It does not. If you have a suspicion, then you carry out an investigation. On the 7th of April, the CEO issued a letter to the officers placing them on administrative leave because she needed to conduct an investigation to satisfy her suspicion. 7th of April. On the very day, 7th of April, having served them an administrative leave with the left hand, she then takes the right hand and serves them another letter with her signature and when I say served them not her specifically but her operatives from the department who would have delivered the letter. Serves them with the right hand now and say, I am accusing you of major misconduct. Now you just give me a letter dated the 7th of April that says you’re placing me on it because you will need to investigate. And on the same 7th of April I have concluded that you are guilty of sabotage and I will be making a recommendation for your dismissal before the Public Service Commission. Basic administrative procedures that cannot be properly executed, which ultimately can cost the Belizean people hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
One question posed to Flowers was the possibility of the falsification of the medical certificates. The union president pointed to the role of the Social Security Board in validating medical claims, noting that questions surrounding the legitimacy of medical certificates fall under that body’s responsibility.
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “I personally, Renee, I cannot comment on the validity of medical certificates. I think that I respect the profession of all the professionals in the medical field, and I will, under no circumstances, even try to make any pronouncements or insinuation surrounding those certificates. All of those doctors are licensed, are certified, and are accredited to evaluate a patient to make a diagnosis and to issue a subscription or a recommend for the recovery of their health and well-being.”
Reporter: But would you welcome an investigation that looks into whether those certificates were falsified?
Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “I’m not the Social Security Board. I’m not an employer. So that’s not on my radar. And that’s not for me. I’m not here to chase chump change and try to determine which doctor legit and which doctor is not legit. The Ministry of Health and Wellness needs to do its job. And that’s why we also have the Belize Medical and Dental Association out there. Who I’m quite sure, goes through its vetting processes for its members.”
The situation follows recent operational challenges at the western border, where eight immigration officers called in sick last Monday which then climbed to twelve officers reporting sick on Wednesday, April 1./
English (US) ·