Caribbean Times 88th Issue - Thursday 8th September 2016

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Thursday 8th September 2016
Tourism Minister addresses concerns
By Everton Barnes
The Antigua and Barbuda
government is going to
lengths to reassure the country
that the Statutory Corporations
(General Provisions)
Bill provides safeguards
protecting the rights of an
employee who has been seconded
from one corporation
to another or from one corporation
to the civil service.
Speaking in the House of
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Representatives debate on
the motion to approve the
controversial Clause 7 of the
bill, Tourism Minister, Asot
Michael, in defending the
government’s position, spent
much time discussing exactly
what is a secondment and the
circumstances under which
they should be effected.
“The term “secondment”
describes where an employee
is assigned on a temporary
basis to work for another,
“host” organization (“an external
secondment”) or to
work for a different part of
the employer’s organization
which may be a large organization
(“an internal secondment”).
On expiry of the secondment
term, the employee (the
‘secondee’) will return to his/
her original employer,” Michael
explained.
He also went on to describe
the relationship between
statutory corporations
and the central government.
By Everton Barnes
Two home owner’s appeal to the Cabinet
has been successful resulting in the government
ordering the removal of a cell tower from
their neighbourhood.
Making the disclosure, Cabinet spokesman
said the two people live in the St John’s Rural
North constituency and they went to the Cabinet
to report the construction of the two in a
residential area. They told the Cabinet that this
poses a threat to homeowners who will be exposed
to harmful radiation over time.
According to Hurst the offending tower
was about 14 feet in height and located in close
proximity to homes in the area. He said the
“A public corporation is a
“quasi-governmental” body
administering services on
behalf of the central government.
But in all cases in
Antigua and Barbuda, Public
Corporations are wholly
owned by the Government
and the People of Antigua
and Barbuda,” he further explained.
Minister Michael also
addressed a number of concerns
as detailed in the Daily
Observer newspaper.
He listed nine concerns
but said that they may be
classified under three broad
headings; (1) Excessive powers
are being given to ministers,
(2) There are Illegal provisions
of the bill which seek
to interfere with employment
contract and (3) Employees
cannot be seconded without
their consent.
In addressing the issue
of excessive power, Michael
said ministers who are given
powers under a statute are
required to act within their
powers.
“We are not laws unto
ourselves and should not at
any time act high handed
or unjustly. We must at all
times act fairly, reasonably,
and with impartiality, equity
and justice for all,” he stated.
He added that there are
provisions for redress should
anyone feel aggrieved by a
minister’s action.
Regarding the accusation
that there are illegal provisions
in the bill, the tourism
minister said there are no
illegal provisions in the bill
per se, as an employee’s employment
contract has to be
honoured prior to the actual
secondment.
On the question of an employee
had to give consent
before the secondment, Michael
cited legal precedent
and relevant statute to show
that this is now so that an employee
can be expected to be
seconded from time to time.
Gov’t orders cell towers removed
Development Control Authority had already
issued a stop order on the erection of the cell
tower.
Additionally, Cabinet has ordered the removal
of the cell tower and that it must be
cited where it will no longer poses a threat to
homeowners. “”It appears as though the company
involved had already placed transformers
on this tower, now they have to remove all the
items,” Hurst said.
He said there are 29 cell towers scattered
across Antigua many of which are located in
populated areas and thus pose a threat to humans.
There are links between the presence of
cell towers and a higher incidence of cancer.