Coast Guard officer sues

In his lawsuit, filed by attorney Chantal Paul, Duntin says he was not given a reason for his non-promotion and when he sought meetings with his commanding officer, there was no response. In September 2014, he first filed for judicial review against the defence council of the CG and the Attorney General.

That application was dismissed on the ground that an alternative remedy was available via the Defence Force’s defence council. In matters involving public servants, a person must exhaust seeking redress from all bodies established under the Constitution, before filing for judicial review.

After the lawsuit was struck down, Duntin wrote to the Defence Force’s defence council requesting intervention in relation to his promotion. In another judicial review filed last November, Duntin stated that in July, he received correspondence from the defence council which informed him that a meeting would be held at which his petition on the issue of promotion and non-payment of salary would be discussed. He contacted Yolanda Morris, who was named in the council’s correspondence as the person to contact. Duntin stated in his lawsuit that she told him his petition was not considered by the council, when it met. Duntin stated he received no correspondence from the CG regarding his issues of promotion and back pay. Based on that, the November judicial review was filed on the ground that Duntin has petitioned for redress but it is not being considered by the defence council. Yesterday, the lawsuit came up for hearing in the San Fernando High Court before Justice Devendra Rampersad. The matter was heard in Chambers and adjourned to May 26.