Castries waterfront with government buildings in the background. * Photo credit: almcclughan.com
Government has denied reports that it plans to put over 200 public servants out of work next month.
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the government said it is “extremely disappointed at the irresponsible behaviour” of the United Workers Party Women In Action group for a recent press release about proposed job cuts in the civil service.
The WIA, in its press release, said it is requesting clarification from the prime minister regarding an alleged list of over 200 public officers to be terminated by March 31, 2014.
“We understand the alleged list contains mostly single mothers and female employees who have been employed with the State for more than seven years,” a statement from the group disclosed.
However, the government responded swiftly with a press statement of its own, saying there have been no discussions in the government on any proposed cuts in the public service and there are no plans to terminate any public officers by March 31, 2014 or by any other date.
“It is very disappointing that a mere four days after Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony and members of his Cabinet met with the private sector and the trade unions in a national retreat on the economy, where comprehensive discussions were held on the state of the economy and the fiscal position of the government, that the UWP WIA should seek deliberately and mischievously to inflame the emotions of public officers by distributing such a blatantly false press release. ”
The government added: “The absurdity of the press release is further compounded by its outrageous claim that this government, which for the first time in the history of our country has established a programme called SMILES, that specifically targets single mothers by providing them with new skills and job opportunities, would target this same category of workers for dismissal.
“What makes this press release from the UWP, which is seeking to instil fear in the hearts and minds of female public officers, even more dispiriting is that it comes from the Women’s In Action less than two weeks after a woman accepted the mantle of leadership of the parliamentary opposition.”
The government called on the opposition to display the level of leadership and responsibility that is required in challenging times like these and “restrain auxiliary groups like the WIA from behaviour that not only brings the Office of the Leader of the Opposition into disrepute, but which can do incalculable damage and harm to innocent, hard-working citizens of our country, all for the sake of attempting to score cheap political points”.