Gov’t will not victimise; obstructionist workers should quit — Leacock

Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock says the New Democratic Party government does not intend to victimise public sector workers, so those who intend to be obstructionist should quit.

He made the comment on Boom FM on Monday, less than one week after being sworn in as the minister of national security and immigration.

Leacock, who was elected to a fourth term as MP for Central Kingstown in the Nov. 27 general election, was asked about a wide range of matters related to the new government and his portfolio.

Asked whether he was happy with Commissioner of Police Enviille Williams, the national security minister said he would not give a public answer, as the police chief “is entitled to his own degree of privacy and protection”.

Leacock said that an objective assessment has not been done and it would be unfair to Williams to expose him in that public way.

“The reason why I’m doing my examination, I know I’m getting advice, left, right and centre, inside, outside, all around us,” Leacock said.

“And everybody knows I’m familiar with the history but the commissioner of police is entitled to have a degree of respect. He should not become a subject for discussion on a public radio station,” said Leacock, who has a military background, obtaining the rank of major in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force.

He was asked about a social media discussion alleging that Williams had not returned a salute to Prime Minister Godwin Friday.

Police officers in uniform in SVG are required to salute members of parliament and the holders of certain other offices, such as magistrates and judges. The person receiving the salute generally acknowledges it with a gentle nod, but non-members of the constabulary are not expected to initiate or return a salute.

Leacock said that he walks past many police officers who do not give him the courtesy of a salute.

“But, in many cases, some of them may not know who you are because some of them are that young,” he said, adding that the more senior and experienced officers understand what the courtesies are.

“I don’t think outwardly, the commissioner of police will disrespect the prime minister and especially the first day on the job, nor do I think he would fall asleep on the job.”

Leacock said that he had met for three hours last week with the police chief and their discussion included standards in the police force, including units of officers sauntering about the city, “like anything goes”, rather than marching from place to place.

Asked whether the police chief had been confirmed in this post, Leacock noted that the previous prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, had done so.

‘not in the business of head-hunting’

Leacock, however, noted that a commissioner of the police is appointed by the governor-general, on the advice of the prime minister.

“He knows that the prime minister has to be comfortable with him,” Leacock said, adding that the appointment of a police chief “doesn’t mean that he can’t be disappointed.

“But the New Democratic Party, at the moment, is not in the business of head-hunting. And if people are in the public service and they’re doing the job, and the history is as such, don’t expect us to come with a searchlight to ferret you out of where you are,” Leacock said.

He said that the NDP administration “as far as we can, we wish to have continuity, good and best practices, without compromising the quality work and speed at which we have to deliver it to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“So, if you know that your intention is to be an obstructionist, make life easy for us,” Leacock said.

“If that’s your intention — so nobody come and say that we’re going to be headed-hunting. We’re not in the business of victimisation. But if you know that you’re uncomfortable, you do not want to walk with this administration, then do the right thing; take leave of the office, and allow others who want to work in the interest of St. Vincent the Grenadines together on with their work. But the fundamental principle is people are safe where they are unless we have sufficiency of evidence that we must act and act decisively on what obtains.”

Leacock said that SVG “must be a nicer place for the presence of the New Democratic Party.

“Already, people are celebrating that in a way that they do well — there’s a new breeze; the place feels lighter; it’s cleaner; it is nicer. We must sustain that and any impediments that come in the way of us being a nicer people [must be removed].”

Leacock said that he was not going to former opposition leader and Arnhim Eustace’s “kinder and gentler society”, but added, “ we have to be our brother’s keeper. We have to look out for each other, and help each other.

“If we remain the divisive red party, yellow party, if we remain as colour-coded as we came into this paradigm, then we would lose our way and lose it very quickly. There has to be a reconciliation. There has to be a healing,” the deputy prime minister said.

“And, therefore, reciprocity has to be the order of the day. This is a new Democratic Party administration for all Vincentians. Do your part in facilitating and enhancing that seamless transfer as we progress to transformed St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The national security minister said that as a general rule and as someone who has worn a uniform, “I don’t take easily and kindly to officers jumping over ranks to get where they must”, adding that doing so affects the esprit de corps of the constabulary.

Some senior ranks ‘uncomfortable’ working for NDP gov’t

Leacock said there was sufficient information that there are people in the leadership of the police force who are “uncomfortable in service to this prime minister, this administration.

“They will have to be allowed to understand that there’s a new order and that they must be professional in their conduct.

“If they demonstrate or are determined that they, as we would say in local language, run things, and their job is not to facilitate, but to frustrate, then the appropriate course of action will be taken. And I would advise all of them to, as quickly as possible, fall in line, and it must be demonstrative. You can sue-sue, sue-sue and behind our back, say a different thing, or act otherwise.

“Clearly, through the appropriate chain of command, action will be taken because we are not –and let me underscore that — we are not in the business of victimising, we are not in the business of micromanaging. And leaders must lead, whether they’re in the police force or other aspects of the public service.”

Leacock said that as a responsible government, “we must also create the environment that makes our various sets of managers know that they are free to make proper, intelligent business and organisational institutions that advance in the first instance St. Vincent and Grenadines”.

He said that this means that and that means to be as far as possible “in constant accord and steps with the policy and programmes of the prime minister and of the New Democratic Party. And that’s not a difficult ask and that goes across the board.”

Members of some state boards yet to resign

Leacock said there is a protocol that members of the boards of state entities would resign when a new government comes to office so as to give the new administration a free hand to order its affairs, adding that the same thing happens in the foreign service.

“Those things are not witch-hunting. Those things are good governance practices and a lot of  people have not yet done so, and I’m saying that those are the protocols, and if they have not done so, maybe, whether it’s through the the cab-sec (cabinet secretary) or whoever the senior government officers whose responsibility is — certainly, it is not a national security matter, and I’m not peeping people in other people’s bowl, but do the right thing:

“Give the Prime Minister and his government and his cabinet a free hand to have in place in the public entities at the level of board, boards, the leaders and members that they require.”