T&T Immigration officers not happy with their boss
(Trinidad Guardian) Immigration officers have taken a vote of no confidence in T&T’s acting Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) Charmaine GandhiAndrews. At least 300 officers have signed a petition which was sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The PSC has now launched an investigation into claims which suggest that immigration officers throughout T&T are dissatisfied with the manner in which Gandhi-Andrews carries out her duties.
The petition listed some concerns by officers, including issues with management, general indiscretions, court cases, facilities issues and internet, information technology and communications issues.
The petition, along with a letter—“No confidence in acting Chief Immigration Officer, Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews”—dated August 7, 2017, was sent to Auditor General Majeed Ali.
That letter, which was signed by President of the Public Services Association, Watson Duke, was also copied to The Chief Personnel Officer; Director of Personnel Administration; Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security.
He added that the following information supported its call to put an end to the unsatisfactory performance of the acting CIO by having her removed.
One of the major issues highlighted in the letter is that there has been no solution implemented to alleviate the backlog created by the closure of the Moonan Building on Frederick Street, which houses the Permanent Residence and Citizenship (PR&C) section of the Immigration Division. It was closed with no alternative arrangements made for the services being offered there.
Duke stated in the letter that there are an estimated 4,000 outstanding Permanent Residence & Citizenship applications that are yet to be completed; PR&C reports sent for vetting by the acting CIO invariably remain in an office for months.
He added that there are about 400 requests to lift Deportation Orders with no strategy to reduce the amount.
When contacted on the issue, Duke said “It is all work related and the PSA was asked to send the letter on behalf of the workers. It is nothing to do with the acting CIO personally but with her duties,” Duke said.
“There are certain inconsistencies that they believe should not be displayed by someone holding such a position and this consequence is that it affects her ability to deliver.”
He expects that by the end of February, he should get a detailed report from the PSC on their findings and recommendations.
On October 10, 2017, in another letter sent to Sandra Jones, Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, Duke noted that the PSA has established sufficient evidence to support a motion of no confidence in the acting CIO’s ability to manage the affairs of the Division.
He added that “accordingly, the Association does not recommend that the acting CIO Mrs GandhiAndrews be appointed to the post of Chief Immigration Officer”.
On January 2, 2018, the Director Personnel Administration (Ag), Carla Bailey, acknowledged receipt of the letter.