PHILIPSBURG:--- Secretary of the Windward Island Civil Servant and Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU William Reed confirmed to SMN News on Thursday that the President of the WICSU/PSU Derie Leonard did resigned. He said Leonard even made an announcement in the newspapers since she had intentions of taking up another position and did not want to create a conflict of interest by being the President of WICSU/PSU and mediator for the Department of Labor.
Reed said based on what SMN News published on Wednesday night he can only say that a general membership meeting has to be called and the board of the WICSU/PSU will decide between Friday and Monday when that meeting will be held. "As soon as a date is set for the general membership meeting a notification will be sent to the media and when that meeting is held the election committee will be established. A new date for the elections will also be established if the time is too short for candidates to postulate and campaign."
It should be noted that the current Labor mediator Raphael Boasman is expected to leave the position on June 5th 2015, therefore he is supposed to train the person that is appointed or selected to take his place when he leaves. Even though the time frame is short so far the Department of PNO did not publish the position as being vacant so that candidates could apply. SMN News further learnt that while Boasman is supposed to train the new person so far no one is being trained even though Leonard mentioned to several persons that she will become the next mediator. SMN News tried contacting Boasman for an official comment but he could not be reached.
It should be noted that Leonard who was an immigration officer is currently on paid leave to serve as the President of the WICSU/PSU. Now that she is resigned from the WICSU/PSU Leonard is supposed to return to the Ministry of Justice so that she can be placed in an available position at the Ministry of Justice. However, Leonard is looking at making a vertical jump by leaving the Ministry of Justice to now work at the Ministry of Labor, in a much higher rated position which she must apply for when it is published by the PNO. If this is not done and she is apponited through political preferrenced then it is a major breach of integrity.
SMN News further learnt that while Leonard is seeking to become the mediator at the labor department through a deal she struck with the former Minister of Labor she is also looking to see if she could obtain a top position at the Pointe Blanche prison where she worked prior to working at the Immigration Department.
