President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union, Elroy Bouche. (iWN file photo)

The Public Service Union (PSU) is calling for the replacement of the members of the Public Service Commission (PSC), in light of the recent court judgment that the PSC failed to comply with specific Public Service Regulations in respect of the non-promotion of five public officers during their respective periods in the public service.

President of the PSU, Elroy Boucher, told a press conference last Tuesday that this is one of the issues that the PSU will highlight when it pickets Parliament on Jan. 29. 

“That is a very serious issue given the extent and gravity of the judgment that was handed down against the commission,” Boucher said.

Boucher said the PSC has failed the public service and workers. 

He noted that the judge has ruled that there are criteria to be used when promoting public officers, including seniority list, performance and evaluation.

Based on these, the PSC should consider merit and ability, academic qualifications, a confidential report from the officer’s superiors and the officer’s experience.

“But when you examine all of them, what is it that they have been following?” Boucher said. 

“The judge ruled that contrary to law, they have not been following any of them. There is no seniority list. How are you making your promotions? How do you know which teacher is more senior than the other? You don’t have a promotion and evaluation system. How are you assessing the work of any public officer? You’re not taking experience into consideration.”

He said that the court has ruled that on each of the criteria the PSC has acted unlawfully.

“So you promote Miss X. How did you promote that person? And the chances of that promotion being ruled unlawful is extremely strong. Everybody has to know cases. You wake up this morning and you hear that this post has been filled. The other thing she (the judge) said is that every single vacancy in the public service, by law, must be advertised. So you hear that throughout the service, you really don’t. Any case that is brought, given this judgment, has a very high possibility that it will succeed,” Boucher said. 

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