Minister of Public Works response to media release

I wish to respond to a media release by APNU/AFC in relation to my disclosures of the contract details of Amanza Walton-Desir, MP.

Ms. Desir in her presentation in the National Assembly during the ongoing budgetary debates alleged that the PPP/Civic Administration terminated her employment on political grounds. She was a legal advisor to the Civil Aviation Authority, a statutory body corporate over which I hold Ministerial responsibility including Parliamentary responsibility. The allegations of Ms. Desir are completely false and without any basis whatsoever. It is therefore my duty to respond. Respond I did, for which I have no apologies.

I will ignore the personal attacks contained in the media release. It is the modus operandi of the incompetent APNU/AFC. It is their substitute for dealing with the real issues.

APNU/AFC describes Ms. Desir as a public servant. She is not. That is part of their incompetence. They do not know who is a public servant. 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.

As an officer of a public authority, Civil Aviation Authority, Ms. Desir is a public officer being paid by public funds and the terms and conditions of her contract as well as the quality of her performance are all matters to which the public is entitled. I disseminated that information to the public which I have a duty to do as the subject Minister of that Authority.

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.