GG’s office denies dismissal of Public Services Commission

[Lazie]

The Governor General's office has denied acting on instructions reportedly from the Prime Minister to fire members of the Public Services Commission.

In a release issued Wednesday, King's House said it did not issue letters of dismissal as reported in some sections of the media on Tuesday.

The Governor General's Secretary said the reports are untrue.

However, the release made no mention of reports that the Prime Minister had requested that the members of the Commission be dismissed.

Mr. Golding reportedly requested that the Commissioners be dismissed on the basis of misconduct.

The commission had selected Professor Stephen Vasciannie as Solicitor General but this choice seemed unacceptable to the Golding administration which demanded that it be changed.

[Lazie]

PNP trying to block the dismissal of the PSC

Lawyers representing Opposition Leader Portia Simpson-Miller, went to court seeking to block any attempt to dismiss members of the Public Services Commission (PSC).

In papers filed in the Supreme Court Wednesday, the attorneys are seeking a judicial review of the decision to fire the commissioners.

In the lawsuit which names the Prime Minister and the Attorney General as defendants, the Opposition Leader is seeking a court order quashing the recommendation that the commission be dismissed.

The attorneys are also seeking an injunction preventing dismissal until the Commission is afforded a hearing into the Prime Minister's allegation of misconduct.

The lawyers argued that the Prime Minister breached the rules of natural justice by denying the PSC members a hearing to determine if there was any impropriety on their part.

They further claim that Mr. Golding was guilty of procedural unfairness by not giving notice before coming to this finding of misconduct.

According to the lawyers, the Prime Minister is guilty of the unreasonable exercise of power and acted in bad faith.

In her supporting affidavit, Mrs. Simpson-Miller noted that she had written to Mr. Golding indicating her opposition to his decision.

According to Mrs. Simpson-Miller, the Prime Minister is acting against the PSC only to thwart his recommendation of Professor Stephen Vascianne as the country's next Solicitor General.