NEWS > 08 September 2006

Article sourced from

Antigua Sun
08 September 2006

This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.

PSC backs down

The Police Service Commission (PSC) and the commissioner of police have backed down on a promotion decision and have confirmed Acting Inspector Nuffield Burnette, a full inspector. Burnette has held the rank of acting inspector for the past three years.

Burnette�s name did not appear on a recent promotions list, which placed some of his juniors in a higher rank than him. Now, that situation has been reversed.

The SUN, in its lead story, Wednesday reported that Burnette and Assistant Superintendent Wendell Robinson, who was also overlooked for promotion, had both threatened to contest their omission in the courts, charging that the promotions were not done on merit, but out of pure insularity and favouritism.

The Antigua Sun has now been reliably informed that the authorities have since revisited the promotion list and have back-pedalled on the earlier decision and confirmed Burnette in the rank. Robinson�s case seemingly was not reviewed.

Speaking with the SUN, Burnette said, �I feel justice was done. I feel good to know that the powers that be have listened and that they have decided to review the decision they had made.�

The new inspector expressed gratitude to those who showed an outpouring of support for his cause. �I want to thank the persons who supported me. The support was overwhelming and came from all quarters, even from the level of lawyers. It is an indication that the system can still work.�

He said he would not pursue the matter legally any further.

However, reliable sources claim that had it not been for the intervention of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, who has special responsibility for the police, the status quo would have been maintained where Burnette was concerned. .

Reports further indicate that the head of the force and the chairman of the PSC were summoned to an emergency meeting with PM Spencer in a bid to review the published promotion list. Burnette had the full backing of the executive of the PWA and the general membership. Some senior officers pointed out that Burnette was one of the most senior and effective investigators in the Criminal Investigation Department and welcomed his promotion.

In the case of Assistant Superintendent Robinson however, he has assured he would forge ahead and had already met with his attorneys and will pursue the matter to the end. Other officers are expected to join in the fight.

�I am not doing it for me, but I am doing it for the force. I am very happy for Burnette because I hold him in high regard, because of his integrity, uprightness and his candour. I wish him all the best.�

EiP Comments:

* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.

Other related articles:

Article sourced from

Antigua Sun08 September 2006

PSC backs down

EiP Comments:

Antigua Sun
08 September 2006