| Ewing objects to political restrictions on public servants | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Thursday, 09 August 2012 15:20 | |||
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Progressive National Party Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing is objecting to government rules that prohibit senior government officials from attending party political meetings and rallies and meetings of campaigning organizations. Government Chief Executive Officer Patrick Boyle recently sent out a circular reminding government officers that the General Orders and Code of Conduct and Ethics which govern the public service prohibit employees from working paid or unpaid for any political issue. The rules are not new. Since 1998, General Orders have said “officers are expressly forbidden to engage in political activities at any time on behalf of any party or candidate in an election to the Legislature. They are expressly forbidden to act as agents, sub-agents or canvassers at such elections.” However, Boyle said the rules do allow public servants below the grade of senior administrative officer — the majority of 1,700 government employees — to take part in political meetings, rallies and campaign organizations, but that political rhetoric should be kept out of their offices. No government employee is allowed to wear any article of clothing, emblem or other item supporting any political party or campaign other than a government employee union while at work or otherwise representing government. “All public servants are reminded that they must serve the government of the day, whatever its political persuasion, to the best of their ability in a way which maintains political impartiality in line with the requirements of General Orders and the Code of Ethics and Conduct governing the public service and they must do so no matter what their own political beliefs,” Boyle said in his circular. Progressive National Party Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing called on Boyle to retract and amend the circular. “The PNP is of the view that no one should be prohibited from attending any public political meeting or rally, but senior civil servants should not declare their political preference by the wearing of logos or other paraphernalia of political parties at such meetings,” Ewing said. “The prohibition of civil servants from attending these meetings is a gross violation of their constitutional and human rights.” The PNP Young Nationals on Grand Turk, where most residents are government employees, said many civil servants were fearful of accepting invitations to attend political meetings. Boyle’s circular says employees below the grade of senior officer can take part in political activities while not at work. “As we transition to a new elected government, it is important that staff exhibit the same level of professionalism and integrity regardless of whichever party is in power,” Boyle said. “We must continue to build a civil service with standards that are based on integrity and with staff who carry out their duties in a fair, objective and transparent manner.”
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