National

Permanent Secretary Sues Government

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Antoinette Thompson was the permanent secretary when JoBeth Coleby-Davis had ministerial oversight for the Ministry of Housing and Transport.

Published

1 year ago

November 24, 2023

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Antoinette Thompson was the permanent secretary when JoBeth Coleby-Davis had ministerial oversight for the Ministry of Housing and Transport.

A supreme court filing dated October 27th names Prime Minister Philip Davis, Coleby-Davis, secretary to the cabinet Nicola Campbell, the Ministry of the Public Service permanent secretary Gina Thompson, undersecretary in the Ministry of Transport and Housing Gaynell Rolle and Transport and Housing undersecretary Dr. Donna Miller.

In the court document Thompson alleges since April 2023, the defendants have effectively punished and disciplined her without justification and opportunity to address her accusers.

The document also lays out multiple instances she claims back up those points.

They range from trips being planned without her knowledge as PS. Funding was requested while she was out of office.

The document says around April 2023, after a trip of public and private sector officials to the Dominican Republic, Thompson was called to the cabinet office by the secretary to the cabinet. She was informed that the minister had reported their work relationship as “unstable”.

She was then placed on unrecorded leave.

The claims also claim in or around June 2023, the prime minister and secretary to the cabinet in his capacity of permanent secretary in the office of the prime minister, insisted Thompson undergo an independent assessment with Dr. David Allen.

It also says at no time did the prime minister, the minister or the cabinet secretary formally outline any behaviours calling for an independent assessment.

It also reads, “the actions of the third defendant( secretary to the cabinet) negligently, unlawfully and maliciously placing the claimant on ‘unrecorded leave’ and not specifying the ambit of the leave to the claimant, the claimant’s colleagues and the claimant’s subordinate staff, caused and still causes the claimant pain and suffering and damage to her professional reputation.”

According to the document, in July, undersecretary Miller called Thompson’s son, who works at the Road Traffic Department, to her office, while he was on leave.

The court document says that upon arriving, Thompson’s son was allegedly told to remove her personal items from her office in the Ministry of Transport and Housing “without reasonable, lawful or any explanation”.

Thompson alleges she was given until the end of that day to remove all personal items from the office, while off the island.

She claims this caused her “embarrassment and damage”.

Thompson is seeking general damages, special damages in the amount of $7,500, costs, interest, and any other relief the court deems just.