Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
City Hall weighs in on Minister’s double standard in staff employment
Acting Mayor Patricia Chase-Green yesterday criticized Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker for what she
Mayor (Ag) Patricia Chase-Green
said is “double standard” in the manner in which staff is being hired. The Deputy Mayor was at the time referring to statements the Minister made about a dispute involving the appointment of the Industry/Plaisance Overseer.
The Plaisance community is against the appointment of Orlando Jardine, who they claim is inexperienced for the position and who is also not a resident of the community. They prefer one Deborah McDowell who they claim has served in various capacities in the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and has performed exceptionally well. She displays professionalism in the manner in which she conducts her job, they said.
Minister Whittaker during a visit to the community tried to calm down protesting residents. He stated that Jardine was most suitable for the position. He said that Jardine did not have to come from the community to represent them, although such a scenario would have been desirable.
The Minister said that Jardine’s appointment to office followed a standard required procedure implemented in all of the 65 NDCs. He said that the vacancies for other open positions were altogether advertised by the Ministry in many of the national newspapers.
He said that the requirements involved applicants having five subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC), Grades One -Three, be at least 25 years of age, computer literate, have previous work experience and a police clearance.
It was explained that although McDowell has 15 years experience within the NDC, she acted in the position of Overseer for a short time. He explained further, that the interviewing panel looked at McDowell’s qualifications and experience before deciding on selecting Jardine.
He noted that the woman was not qualified for the position; “We cannot set requirements, set standards and compromise those standards. We cannot repose confidence in a set of people to view potential employees, and having done that say to them
Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker
without good cause that we do not respect and cannot accept your recommendation.”
The Deputy Mayor said, however, that the Minister’s comments contradict his actions. She said the Local Government Ministry seems to engage in double standards, now talking about qualifications in the case of the Plaisance Overseer and earlier talked about experience in the case of city Town Clerk Carol Sooba.
Sooba was rejected by an interview panel which included Chase-Green. They were interviewing persons for the position of Town Clerk and despite Sooba being the least qualified according to the panel, she was still given the job.
In the case of former Town Clerk Yonnette Pluck, Chase-Green said that she applied for the post but never came to an interview, yet still she was given the job.
Since Sooba’s appointment, the City Council has been divided with Sooba apparently taking orders from the Minister and the Mayor and Councillors claiming that their orders are not being followed.
‘This unacceptable double standard behaviour must not be accepted from the Minister,” Chase-Green said.
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