A diplomat attached to the Toronto Office of the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Programme was sent home early after Canadian police were preparing to take action against him and his wife for having "public domestic disputes".I can only imagine this was done to avoid prosecution of the individual and spouse. And I can only imagine that the individual 'was sent home' with the full approval of someone in the Government, so therefore, we have a government which is clearly approving of avoidance of punishment after wrongdoing. Well, not entirely. Just protecting your own, clearly expressed in this instance, in Shermie McNicolls' affair, in Hazel Rogers-Dick's access to hospital equipment.
"The labour attache/consultant (Labour and Employment) at the Toronto Office of the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Programme, was recalled before the end of his contractual arrangement after the Canadian Metropolitan Police advised that they were prepared to take the necessary action against this individual and his spouse for public domestic disputes," Montano said.
He then said: "Cabinet approval was granted and the labour attache/consultant (Labour and Employment) was paid the sum of $302,930.21 for finalisation of the ministry's contractual agreement with him."
Montano further said the labour attache received an additional $53,384.54 as contract gratuity, bringing the total he was paid for the early end of his tenure to $356,314.75.
Aside from damaging the reputation of the country with your personal domestic disputes, you now get paid for it. And look at the details of the payment. Not only payment but extra rewards as well.
Like Pappy-tricks, it seems that it is fast becoming the norm to hire your spouse in the 'family business' i.e. the government bureaucracy.The man employed his wife at the Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Programme in Toronto for almost four years when the consul general only granted approval for an initial six-month period.
This occurred even though the practice of recruiting family members had been discontinued.
"The officer paid himself allowances higher than those, which he was entitled to, without the approval of the Permanent Secretary or the consul general, Toronto," Montano said.Aye, wait nah. You mean... the salary, expense accounts, accommodation etc wasn't enough? He had to pay himself extra too? Without approval eh. So let's see, what's going to happen to him?
"The Labour Ministry is investigating all matters relating to the consul labour's stewardship and the final report of the ministry's Internal Audit Department is being addressed in the context of the above mentioned investigations," Montano said yesterday.My bad. I thought since the final report from the auditors indicated some form of corruption, action would be taken. However, I am relieved to know that the report is being addressed. Or maybe this actually means the report is being dressed?
Hold on, Don Quixote. Are we tilting at windmills here? Will be terminated? You mean, she still frigging working, despite all these things that were dug up? At this point, I want to hold meh head and bawl like 40 Tarzan.Montano also that while the consul labour had employed his wife without the approval of the Permanent Secretary, such matters were fell under the responsibility of the consul general.
Montano said the consul labour's spouse made a request for employment to the consul general who, in a letter dated September 24, 2002, advised that the practice of recruiting family members was discontinued but consideration could be given for short-term type employment only.
"Subsequent to this correspondence, consul labour employed his spouse as a clerk 1, for an initial period of six months from October 28, 2003, in the Labour Liaison Branch, and subsequently on a continuous, month by month basis to August 24, 2007, the date on which her engagement will be terminated*," Montano said.
Maybe this is diplomatic immunity - Trinidad style.
