Baptiste Charged
Posted in News and Current Affairs on 20. Feb, 2010
Communications Manager with the Ministry of Tourism Anesia Baptiste said that she does not agree with the 16 charges of misconduct brought against her by the Public Service Commission.
In communication dated February 16 2010 from Lavern Grant, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Baptiste is notified that , “I (Permanent Secretary) have
been directed by the Public Service Commission to initiate disciplinary proceeding against you.”
Baptiste is charged with, in summary: bringing the public service into disrepute and acting prejudicial to the discipline and to the proper administration of Government business; being in contravention of the duty of loyalty to the Government; showing support as to be seen to be pushing an agenda of individuals in an Opposition Party; vehemently accusing the Government of SVG, the Prime Minister, a Minister of the Crown and Minister of Legal Affairs of autocratic and coercive behavior, comparing the conduct of the Prime Minister to that of a communist; making unwarranted and unsubstantiated accusations of impropriety against the Prime Minister, to wit that he threatened the media and is a dishonourable gentleman who spreads falsehood and lies.
Political victimization
When contacted and asked if she believed that the charges constituted a witch hunt, Baptiste stated, “I am being slapped with these charges even though I did not bring any disrepute to the Ministry of Tourism. This action seems to be political.”
She continued, “I never compromised anything regarding my job and to the business of the government. No reports have been brought against me concerning my performance or conduct at the Ministry of Tourism; it is a clear case of political victimization. You get a sense that there is double standard. There was a woman who accused the Prime Minister of rape which made international headlines, yet this woman is still working.”
Baptiste concluded, “I have no fear and my conscience is free. I am willing to continue to maintain my freedom. I don’t spread lies and falsehood, and wherever I see injustice I will speak out. God sees everything and knows everything. He is in total control and he will have the final say.”Baptiste has fourteen days after receipt of the communication to state “any grounds upon which you rely to exculpate you.”
She is currently at home on “some days off” preparing her response to the charges.
The charges are substantiated with a numbers of exact quotations from Baptiste allegedly made at public meetings, on radio programmes and in the press.
Baptiste hosts a weekly television programme and writes a weekly column in a newspaper, on behalf of the Thusian Institute for Religious Liberty of which she is the Associate Director.
She was actively involved in the No Vote campaign against the proposed new constitution for SVG, which was put to a referendum November 25, 2009.
SOURCE: The Vincentian
Very interesting blog, to be honest fantastic.Hope to see it further when i have more time.
This is a very interesting story. As I read the charges leveled against Ms. Baptiste, there seems to be a suggestion that the Prime Minister is not to be criticized, and that something is wrong if the government or the P.M is taken to task. Every citizen has that fundamental right to freedom of conscience and to hold any public officer or the government of the day accountable for their leadership or lack thereof of the country. Being a public servant does not take that responsibility or that right away from you. A person should be loyal to their country and to any government or party. The keepers of the social conscience of a country are its people and they must speak up and fan that flame of justice, accountability and integrity in public office or else the poor and downtrodden and those who are incapable of speaking for themselves would be taken advantage of by a system that is design to do just that. Let freedom reign, let freedom reign.
Correction: A person should be loyal to their Country and NOT to any government or political party.
it seems to me that no one is free to express him or her self in the small island of st. vincent.what about freedom of speech?If the government do not want to be criticized, .they should get out of politics .we need people to lead us who have a back bone,so wake up my people, wake up from your slumber,look around and see what is becoming of your country.