I have no power to dismiss Ms. Desir – Minister Edghill

− termination in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority terms

Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill has denied claims that he dismissed Attorney-at-Law and new APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir from her job as a legal advisor to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). 

Minister Edghill, in a media release today, in response to a statement from the APNU+AFC accusing him of dismissing Ms. Walton-Desir and unjustly and publicly disclosing the details of her contract, said he had no authority to dismiss her. He also denied the accusations that he dismissed her on political grounds. 

While acknowledging that he holds both Ministerial and Parliamentary responsibility for the GCAA, Minister Edghill noted that it was a statutory body which terminated Ms. Walton-Desir’s contract on its terms. 

“The allegations of Ms. Desir are completely false and without any basis whatsoever.  

They alleged that I dismissed Ms. Desir for political reasons. I have no power to dismiss Ms. Desir. She has a contract with the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Authority terminated that contract in accordance with its terms. I simply disclosed the grounds upon which she was dismissed,”Minister Edghill said.

The Minister also asserted that while the Opposition described Ms. Walton-Desir as a public servant, she was not.  “That is part of their incompetence. They do not know who is a public servant,” he stated.   

Minister Edghill added that he would ignore personal attacks against him in the media on the matter. 

“I reject all allegations of political persecution. Of course, Ms. Desir is free to challenge both the termination of her contract as well as my public disclosures. I wish her well,” Minister Edghill said.