Jan 09 - GSD’s Bullying Press Release Is “Contradictory” Says Government
The Government has said that today’s press release from the GSD is “contradictory” and a “futile attempt” to compare the progress of the internal Civil Service investigation into allegations against Ms Joanna Hernandez and the factual assessment ordered by the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, under section 15 of the Police Act.
In fact, argues the Government, in both instances the Chief Minister has acted with “all due alacrity” when the issues have been referred to him. In the Hernandez case, Number Six says he immediately referred the matter to the head of the Civil Service, who has responsibility for such matters within the service and has constituted the necessary panel to investigate.
In the RGP case, says the Government, the Chief Minister requested the factual assessment from the Chairman of the Gibraltar Police Authority.
The fact that one investigation is taking longer than the other is “no evidence of anything”, according to the Government, but the fact that the Opposition have highlighted this in this way is, it says, “evidence of an apparent desire by them to see Ms Hernandez somehow found wanting in some way.”
The Government notes that, as the public is aware from earlier exchanges, Ms Hernandez has been away from Gibraltar due to ill health. This itself, it says, is likely to have impaired progress of the investigation in the matter which deals with the allegations made against her.
What is clear, claims the Government, is that there is an “indecent haste” behind the desire of the Opposition to see the Hernandez case determined and in a manner which goes against her, “given the clear slant of their press releases” on this subject. Some might consider this is surprising, says the Government, given that her first advocate was Mr Daniel Feetham. Criticisms of the delay in this investigation are in effect criticisms of the Civil Servants running the case with care and diligence, says Number Six.
The Chief Minister says he is nonetheless grateful for the reflection that when it comes to bullying allegations, he certainly “acts immediately” to set in train such of the relevant procedures as may apply in each case.
