CSA intervenes in INSPORTS, Andrews issue

Livingston Scott, STAR Writer

The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) has come out in defence of embattled INSPORTS executive director Ian Andrews, who was sent on indefinite leave earlier this week.

In a letter to INSPORTS chairman, Don Anderson, the JCSA argued that the actions taken against Andrews are unauthorised and unethical and insists that the INSPORTS board also withdraw Denzil Wilks as acting executive director of the government organisation. They were also urged to use the correct process to get the matter sorted.

According to the letter, the board has proffered charges against Andrews, but declared that they are just allegations and that the JCSA is ready to stand by him.

It stated that the board erred on two counts, as administrative leave is not recognised by the Public Service Regulation which governs discipline in the public sector, and that workers cannot be sent on leave as a disciplinary action, as leave is a benefit that is accessed on request of a worker.

However, the matter of Wilks (Sports Development Foundation managing director) temporarily replacing Andrews as INSPORTS acting director has been clarified by a letter from the board on Tuesday stating that Wilks is not acting in Andrew's place, but that he is one of two external officers signed by the board to monitor the organisation's affairs on behalf of the board.

Proper channels

Andrews returned to work on Monday where he was served with his letter of indefinite leave. But the JCSA says the issue should be taken through the proper channels by first charging him in accordance to the Public Service Regulation and then giving him appropriate time to respond.

It continues that a date (agreed by both parties) for an enquiry should be set and that the enquiry must be convened with persons as stated in the Public Service Regulations.

Andrews, who was at work when contacted yesterday, said he was not at liberty to comment on the matter, only that he does not know what the letter actually means.

"I came to work on Monday, when I got this letter. I don't know if it means that I won't get any pay, I don't know," he stated.

INSPORTS chairman, Don Anderson, was also not willing to shed any further light on the situation.

"I cannot comment on that right now, we have a number of meetings before we can consider that. I am not going to respond to this one now because there are some things preventing me from responding, so leave it alone for a while," he asked.

Andrews has been accused of incompetence in handling the government entity and failing to conduct annual performance appraisals of staff, and unilaterally reclassifying 13 of 14 appraised staff to higher grades.