Gorse Village
Colonarie P.O.
21 June 2017
Mr. Elroy Boucher
President of Public Service Union
Dear Mr. Boucher,
I write in response to your press conference held on 20th June 2017 in which you seek to question my promotion to an Assistant Chief Immigration Officer (ACIO) at the Passports and Immigration Department giving the reason for my appointment being that my husband was the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) at the time.
I wish to state that as you outlined and from my knowledge, excluding Chief Immigration Officer (CIO), the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer (DCIO) and ACIO positions was and has always been filled by someone from outside of the Department who understood the machinery of government. There were two ACIOs before my time (one deceased and the other retired). Both were not immigration officers. So the question is why was I singled out? Was it because as you said my husband was CPO at the time? You stated that there are SIOs in the Department who were not given the chance to apply for the position because it was not advertised. Was the post ever advertised? Are you suggesting that SIOs have years of training and experience and that I had none?
Mr. Boucher, whatever requirements were needed for the proper functioning of the ACIO position, please be informed that I was no “square peg in a round hole”. I can say without a shadow of a doubt were any of my following supervisors to be contacted: Paula Morris, Westwick Williams, Frank Jones, Past Ministers Mike Browne and Clayton Burgin, Laura Browne, Shirla Francis, Andrea Bowman, Yvette Pompey, Beverly Walker, Stanford Hamilton, they can all attest to my integrity as a model public servant. I have always been a hard and professional worker at whatever I did. I was never late and was absent only in dire circumstances. The experience I gained over all those years has stood me in good stead, so transferring to the Passports and Immigration Department was not seen as a daunting task. Can you Mr. Boucher, name your supervisors so that I can enquire about your record/performance on the job?
I, too, have attended numerous workshops, received training and have experience in government financial rules and regulations. My task was to be responsible for administration and mainly the financial matters within the department and in that area I was more experienced than those who went to workshops and had border training. So it begs the question, why me? Are you implying that because Mr. Burke was the CPO, that his wife should not have been promoted? Have you ever questioned the other appointments to the post before and after me? So what is your bone of contention with me? I say me because out of all the hundreds of public servants you could have named, I was the only one mentioned in your rants.
I was appointed to the post of ACIO by the Service Commissions Department not by Mr. Burke. My years of experience, my performance, professionalism and qualification all speak for themselves and I never went to anyone to beg for a promotion. Are you peeved that your SIO was not appointed to the post at the time?
It would seem that you went to the press conference ill prepared or with a planned vendetta against Mrs. Burke from the Immigration Department. You took the Service Commissions Department to court on the presumption that senior persons (with many years) are being overlooked for promotion. When I went to the Immigration Department, I had almost 30 years in the public service and for your information; it was more years than any other person in the department. A man of your apparent stature should not have gone to a press conference and singled out one individual except you have some motive. You should have properly done your research so as not to contradict the very essence of your taking the Service Commissions Department to court.
I am satisfied that I have done yeoman service to the institutions where I have worked. I went above and beyond the call of duty. They will all tell you that I have left my indelible mark of professionalism and accountability. What would yours be? Maybe, just maybe, that’s why you are at the stage that you are at.
Mrs. Hermisteen Burke
Retired Asst Chief Immigration Officer
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Listen PSU Speaks on NBC Thursday 29 for a response to Mrs Hermisteen
Burke
This woman was supposed to be a professional? You remind me of a little gal who we have running this country…but then again your address is also gorse hill!!
As the old people say, “Self praise is no recommendation.”
As all people know, gaining emoloyment and promotion in the government of SVG is rife with nepotism and patronage.
lol..listening for sure
I did not listen to the PSU programme……
While based on what takes place under the current administration I am in no doubt that Mrs Burke’s promotion would have been hinged in some respect to her politics and her connection I can only agree with her that she was unfairly singled out. It must be noted in the same breadth that the changeover at the Immigration Dept. took place under this administration and while previously under other governments posts were advertised and suitable applicants interviewed now party supporters are pushed into positions. Some have been efficient and professional while many only claim was a party card hence becoming the proverbial “square peg in round hole”.
Her response as a retired professional should have been in line with her training and experience but when someone is hurt the natural thing to do is to hit out.
It is clear that a lot of unfair things are happening in the Public Service and the PSU has its work cut out to rectify things…….at a time when workers are insecure your task is unenviable…..BLESS UP.