GREAT BAY--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina told Parliament on Wednesday that he has written to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor requesting a factual assessment of concerns raised publicly about civil servants, management and the working environment within the ministry.
The Prime Minister made the disclosure during the continuation of a public parliamentary meeting on allegations concerning his involvement in matters related to VSA. Responding to questions from Members of Parliament, Mercelina said he took note of a recent media article containing statements and concerns about the ministry, including references to personnel and individuals who were alleged to have raised concerns internally.
Mercelina said that although the article appeared to contain perceptions and unverified claims rather than established facts, the nature of the allegations required a proper administrative response. He said that, especially now that he is acting Minister of VSA, he could not simply ignore public claims involving civil servants or the working environment inside the ministry.
“Especially now that I am the acting Minister of VSA, I have to do something with that,” Mercelina told Parliament.
According to the Prime Minister, his letter to the Secretary General requested a factual assessment of the matters referenced in the article. He said he asked for information on any advice, reports, complaints or documented concerns that had been brought through the appropriate administrative channels and that may warrant further review.
Mercelina also said he asked the Secretary General to provide feedback on the existing policies and procedures that are in place to ensure that civil servants and public officials can perform their duties professionally, provide objective advice and rely on established mechanisms without fear of retaliation.
The Prime Minister stressed that civil servants should be able to work in a healthy professional environment, without fear, intimidation, pressure or unfair treatment. He said this is why he specifically asked whether any reported incidents existed involving civil servants being subjected to intimidation, retaliation, pressure or adverse treatment as a result of carrying out their professional responsibilities.
Mercelina framed the letter as an effort to separate verified facts from public claims. He said the purpose was to determine whether complaints had been formally documented, whether they had been submitted through the proper channels, and whether further review is warranted.
At the same time, the Prime Minister rejected suggestions that he had instructed civil servants to bypass their minister, department, Secretary General or the formal chain of command.
“No instructions were given,” Mercelina said in response to questions about whether he had directed civil servants within VSA on matters that would legally fall under the authority of the minister.
He also pushed back against the suggestion that his involvement placed civil servants in an uncomfortable position. Mercelina said the letter to the Secretary General was precisely intended to clarify whether any such concerns existed within the ministry and, if so, to have them documented and addressed through the appropriate administrative process.
The Prime Minister said the request was consistent with the principles of transparency, professionalism, integrity and good governance. He told Parliament that if civil servants have raised concerns, government must be able to determine what those concerns are, whether they were properly recorded and what steps, if any, should follow.
Mercelina said the matter has now been placed with the Secretary General so that the relevant facts can be established. He said this approach allows the ministry to address any real concerns based on documentation rather than speculation or political interpretation.
The Prime Minister maintained that his actions should not be interpreted as interference in the ministry, but as a formal request for verification now that the concerns had entered the public domain and he is serving as acting Minister of VSA.
He said government has a responsibility to protect the professionalism of the civil service while also ensuring that any serious allegations are handled through the proper channels.
The Prime Minister concluded that the matter should be dealt with based on facts, records and established procedures, not assumptions.
