Favouritism in Family Court selection

THE EDITOR: This is a letter to our Madam Ministers. Please be aware of the troubled waters which lie ahead for the impending commencement of the Family Court pilot project. Reliable information received indicates that certain individuals in various Government departments have been “hand-picked” by their respective bosses to work at the Family Court. Within the Social Services Delivery Ministry, junior officers have been selected over their seniors to work at the court because they are more willing to submit to the whims and fancies of their bosses, to further their career interests and maintain job stability. It is evident that no thought was given to the hard work and wealth of experience of senior officers that could make a significant contribution to the success of the Family Court.

Could you imagine the hypocrisy and rank favouritism being perpetrated by this “caring Government” and by extension its agents. Additionally, there is an officer on the interviewing panel to hire social services staff, who is interviewing individuals more academically qualified than they are. This officer has a first degree and less experience but has been literally handed the decision-making power to select persons more than qualified to hold their respective position. Remember the old people saying, “Roach have no business in fowl play.” Madam Ministers, another pertinent question that begs an answer, is why was the position of the Family Court’s Social Service Coordinator not advertised as all other positions. Again reliable information points to a highly favoured individual who has been promised the position of coordinator, hence no need to advertise the post.

My, my, my what a transparent process to hire so-called professional staff. This chosen coordinator, known as a female Saddam Hussein, has already caused an exodus of staff from her own department and word is that the Family Court pilot is doomed to fail as long as she is in charge. It is hoped Madam Ministers, that you would not ignore this information and investigate the rank bias and lack of transparency within your various departments, to find the truth and maintain integrity in the public service. Even within the judiciary there seems to be high levels of favouritism. Act now before this pilot project stalls long before it gets off the ground.

E GEORGE
Port-of-Spain