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Jun 02 - GSD Says Chief Minister Has Failed To Manage Bullying Investigation In Fair And Transparent Manner

The GSD says that it notes “with some concern” the personal statement issued by Ms Hernandez on the bullying allegations by 35 trainees at the ETB.

The Opposition says that it was informed by Government last month that the investigation into these “very serious allegations” would be complete by the middle of May, although the findings would not be made public. The GSD says that it now understands from Ms Hernandez, and there is no reason to doubt her, that at no stage has she been informed that she is the subject of a disciplinary investigation and that at no point has she been interviewed to provide her version of events.

It must be asked, says the GSD, what kind of investigation has been underway these past 15 months where the person under investigation is not informed. The party says that it would be “unheard of” in any professional working environment for this to be the case.

It is also now being suggested, says the GSD, that having taken that ”most courageous and in some respects desperate action” in signing a petition and presenting it to the Chief Minister, an act which is on the record, the 35 trainees may now individually have been withdrawing their complaints. One can only imagine, says the Opposition, “the distress this whole affair will have brought to them and their families, an affair which has dragged on for 15 months and in which the Chief Minister himself has utterly failed to ensure that the process has been managed in a fair and transparent manner with appropriate support to all involved.”

Chairman of the GSD, Trevor Hammond said “This is a sorry tale of how not to manage a matter of great sensitivity to all involved. It makes the need to have this investigation made public all the more urgent as something is clearly amiss here. Publication need not include the names of anyone involved in the investigation, but the process must be made transparent”.


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