Injunction blocks PM’s diplomatic appointment

AN INJUNCTION was granted yesterday against the Prime Minister and the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preventing the appointment of an officer to the post that was vacated in the High Commission to the United Kingdom on the arrest of a diplomat for trafficking cocaine in a diplomatic pouch. High Court Judge Carlton Best, sitting in the San Fernando Supreme Court, granted the injunction on hearing of an application of judicial review brought by Feroza Ramjohn, who is contending that the revocation of her transfer to the UK High Commission was unlawful, and that she was unfairly treated by the acting Permanent Secretary. When the matter was heard in the Second Civil Court, attorney Anand Ramlogan told Justice Best that Ramjohn, with 33 years service, was the most senior officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had twice been bypassed for appointment to overseas missions.

In her affidavit, Ramjohn said she had never received a single adverse marking on her staff reports, nor any letter of warning, neither had she been suspended nor the subject of any disciplinary action. Attorney Ramlogan submitted that in a letter to the applicant signed on May 24 by Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Ramjohn was appointed as Foreign Service Executive Officer II to the High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago to London, UK, with effect from the date of assumption of her duties to the post. Ramjohn was informed that she was to the take up the position vacated on the arrest of Bissoon Boodhai, attache Financial Affairs. However, two weeks later, Ramjohn received another letter from Foreign Affairs acting Permanent Secretary Yvonne Gittens-Joseph informing her that the appointment had been rescinded.

Gittens-Joseph is acting for two weeks as Permanent Secretary while Patrick Edwards is in South Africa for two weeks to open an embassy in that country. According to Ramjohn, when she enquired during a meeting with Gittens-Joseph why the transfer to London was revoked, the applicant was told the she was not owed an explanation. Ramjohn also stated that she has been bypassed for appointment to foreign postings in favour of junior officers to herself. The applicant is seeking to quash the decision by the acting Permanent Secretary and a declaration that the purported revocation of the said transfer is illegal, null and void, and of no legal effect. Justice Best fixed the matter for hearing on June 25.