“Abuse of Power: Directors Accused of Bullying and Silencing Public Servants”
A growing number of public servants in Antigua and Barbuda are raising serious concerns about systemic victimization and abuse of authority by senior government officials. Allegations of intimidation, arbitrary transfers, and retaliation against employees who speak out are surfacing across multiple ministries, prompting urgent calls for government intervention.
The Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA) has reported an uptick in complaints from civil servants who claim they have been unfairly targeted by departmental directors. These workers allege they have been sidelined, demoted, or reassigned without clear justification, often after voicing concerns or refusing to align with certain internal agendas.
“This is not just about job dissatisfaction,” said a senior civil servant who requested anonymity. “It’s about systemic practices that punish honesty, transparency, and professionalism. Too many of us are working under fear and undue pressure.”
The situation has been exacerbated by recent comments from Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who has signaled a crackdown on what he describes as underperformance within the public sector. In a recent address, Browne stated, “Heads are going to roll; we have had ten years protecting incompetence in this country; it is finished.” He further warned, “If we don’t push public sector workers to perform, then you are going to get all ill-treatment.”
These remarks have drawn criticism from opposition figures and public service advocates, who argue that such rhetoric fosters a climate of fear and undermines the morale of dedicated civil servants. D. Gisele Isaac, chairperson of the United Progressive Party (UPP), condemned the Prime Minister’s attacks on public servants as “cruel” and “irresponsible.”
The Ombudsman of Antigua and Barbuda, Dr. Marion Blair, has the authority to investigate complaints against public servants or statutory bodies. However, the Ombudsman may decide not to investigate if the complaint is deemed trivial, frivolous, or not made in good faith.
As the government navigates this critical juncture, public servants and the wider community are watching closely to see if justice and transparency will prevail in the ranks of the nation’s civil service.
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If there are genuine complaints take it to the ombudsman. Suddenly now you all under scrutiny for working properly, all kind of silly accusations surface.
That is what happens when your job is political you will be treated like trash, you are only important around election time when they need your vote, when the next election is close you will see how important you become. Gaston understands how Licksplittlers operate
And they asking why so many sick leave in one year well there you go that’s your answer. Is time to remove these negative leaders can’t the government see its affecting the work.
A army is only as good or as strong as it’s leader..So if the General doesn’t know what the hell he is doing, then you can’t blame the shoulder who is merely following the generals lead.
Get better Generals, and you would have better workers, simple.. That’s your answer folks. If these people were as good leaders as they claim they are,then why all these issues?
Are we saying the who of the civil servants were hired as stubborn mules?
So someone is lying then…but we certainly know who they are right?
Y’all better learn.
Stop your complaining and do your jobs as your bosses instruct you. If you can’t handle that then just leave and go work somewhere else but stop complaining and crying like a 5 year old little girl.
@Anonymous at least you are smart to keep your name Anonymous so no one can pinned your rubbish comment to who ever you are.
Bunch of you chatting nonsense 😡 I can tell you for a fact that everything been said is the gospel truth who feels it knows it, I am a victim . One particular ministry there is a person there sabotaging and victimizing person’s especially anyone they done like . Person’s have even gotten 🤧 ill stress out like hell to the point of wondering What’s next. That bully needs to be Cage Asap.🚨🚨🚨🚨🛑😨😤🤢
@Dion Pelle. Smarter than you Dion. If you are one of the lazy, crying and complaining workers on this island then you can fuck off too.
@Anonymous you are an heatless inhumane ingrate. Everything that person said is absolutely correct. The supervisor, managers, directors in the ministries are horrible and awful.
Even the PS and them are terrible some of them.
Some of them don kill off workers because of the stress and bullying they project at workers. All of you talking don’t know shit about what goes on in these ministries, the abuse some workers go through everyday, the absolutely disrespect these management put grown adults through. The government ministries are the most toxic environment to work in Antigua, because of badminded, toxic, jealous, heartless, wicked, evil people in power. Prime minister need to look at those that is management first before you look at the workers under them. They are the ones mashing up your ministries. People will take sick leave and sick days which is their right when they are stressed and frustrated, when they can’t take the bullying. What you prime minister need to do is make sure people are comfortable at work, make sure the systemic bullying and bad treatment is stamp out of the entire government work places. You all know who these bullies are, so stop them from running the ministries like their own private businesses. U cannot be cutting and pruning branches you have to get to the roots and burn out the dangerous roots. You cannot make ordinary workers the scapegoats while the real rotten management get away Scott free. We need people who love and really care about people to manage this country.
WE WANT IBRAHIM TRAORE’
Because we need unity , change in mentality and the chains of slavery off of us black people in this country. Plenty of us still live in mental slavery will all the education we claim to have. Unless we don’t break of these chains nothing will ever change. Unless we don’t STOP 🛑 looking down on those less fortunate and treat everyone with respect and dignity nothing will change. We the black race of Antigua and Barbuda have to do this for the generations to come. Everyone should eat and drink properly in this country, not only a few, all should have the same opportunity without having to kiss some politician ass. We need a revolution.
Yes they try to bully me also, I had to go to the minister of that ministry to make them stop. So yes those higher up like to advantage workers they see that are week and afraid of loosing their jobs. But not me I will go to the end of the earth to protect my democratic rights. I am not going to be afraid of any and I mean any human. I don’t care what power you think you have, because I know the most powerful. And I am not afraid to die for my rights.
All these stunts are sympathy gimmick by Gaston to gain public support to repair his broken political image and credibility because of the he alpha Nero and Barbuda land damage to his political career and image.
In Antigua and Barbuda many workers are being exposed to undue pressure on the workplace. It is unfortunate that the PM doesn’t seem to address the root of the problem why people call in sick for so long. This is the only tool they have to remain some sanity. It is no joke. But I have seen it many times in many workplaces. Supervisors and managers are bullying their staff. They rule with an iron fist. I believe it is because they have no management training. And they don’t know how to motivate their subordinates to perfomance. I know the easiest way is to spread fear. Once they see you come they fear you. And you become as one Director used to call himself “The Head Nigger In Charge”. And this practice has been going on for many years in this country. Especially our females are suffering under male dominated bosses. Especially inn the public sector they hide behind the fact that they are implementing the PM’s order. And since the staff has no direct contact with the PM these managers, director or what not have you are like kings in their own little kingdom. Mr. PM you should look beneath the surface when it comes to this issue of sick days and lack of performance. I once suggested that when you have cabinet meeting you should not only call the head of the department. You should from time to time call in the next in charge. Like the Accounts or Head of the Finance Department. Under pressure they eill tell you exactly how things are at their department or company. Especially in the cases of Statutory Companies. Directors and GM’s will always give you a very nice picture. And they will give you a six for a nine. I have been their. I was chairman of many several boards. And their were times we had to bypass the GM and go straight to the line staff. if their are human resource issues, call in the HR manager and let them tell you what the staff issues are. GMs, Directors and other always will try to cover their backside. As they say Shit only goes one way and that is Down. Sometimes I wonder if you are a very naive person. Not wanting to believe the obvious. Only when the shit hits the fan you take action. But then things have gone sour already. And they say if the Top Slack the Middle and Bottom will drop off. I strongly suggest you change your approach to corporate governance. Things are brewing in several departments. Social Security is one that I have been warning you many times. You will watch it tumble down and all the egg will be in your face. People like to have little kingdoms and it is good to not let them settle too long in these kingdoms they have built. Public Servants can be switch around. Do so with regular intervals. The same way you should be moving around your ministers. And this is good also to make people become all rounders. I for one as a “good” manager can run any department or business. Because I have managment skills. I do not need to know anything about electricity, but because of my management skill I can run that department or company. If I need expert opinion on a subject, I will hire a consultant for that. I hope you got the point. I leave it here. Just know their are underlying reasons why people call in sick oftend. Sometime bosses do not grant workers to have vacation for any lenght of time. The public sector is full of worker with hundreds of vacation days. A very unhealty workplace is being created that way. if and when they are granted vacation it is only for a week. Many public servants have about four working weeks vacation in a calender year. Some even more. And on top of that they have the same amount of paid sickday in a calender year. That will give you about forty working days off in a calender year. Antigua has 10 public holidays. That is a total of fifty (50) work days that a employee can be off the job. Number of working days in a year is 260. Less 50 days is 210 days or 42 work weeks. One can do the math and see what it cost the Treasury. I would suggest we start sending people on forced vacation so that we can hire some young people and let them get some job experience. Those accrued vacation days is a liabuility anyway you look at it. And those employee may need this time off to re-energize and rejuvinate.
Why everything the this government are doing to clean up the mess that was left by the other party becomes a problem….
Why not look at the good the government are doing for all Antiguans and Barbudans….
If this government never created investment opportunities,alot of Antiguans and Barbudans still would be out of a job until this day….
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