Trouble brewing in Gaston Browne’s Ministry- staff ringing the alarm bells

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Prime Minister ofAntigua & Barbuda Gaston Browne

This submission was made via our letter to the Editor section: Gaston Browne’s Ministry: Urgent Reassignment or Restructuring Needed

Dear Editor,

I bring to your attention a matter of urgent concern that is adversely affecting the working environment within the Prime Minister’s Office.

It is with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility that I report the transformation of what was once a harmonious and family-oriented workplace into an increasingly aggressive and inhospitable environment.

This shift is primarily attributed to the actions and management style of a senior public servant in the Prime Minister’s Ministry.

The ethos of our office, known for its culture of togetherness and collective endeavor, has been significantly undermined.

The camaraderie and collaborative spirit that once defined our workplace have given way to a climate of antagonism and discomfort. This change has not only impacted the morale of the staff but also, I fear, is beginning to affect the efficiency and effectiveness of our Ministry.

Eight hours of work, staff are on edge and can be described as walking on egg-shell not knowing when they would be targeted, provoked or transferred to another ministry or within the ministry at no given notice.

Instances where staff members frequently report feeling undermined or undervalued, with their professional opinions and contributions often dismissed or ignored without a fair assessment.

There has been a noticeable shift away from open and transparent communication channels.

Decisions are often made unilaterally without consulting or informing relevant staff members, leading to confusion and a lack of coordination.

The work-life balance previously respected in our office has been eroded. There have been instances of unreasonable demands without due consideration for the personal and familial commitments of the staff.

The public officer’s management approach has become increasingly authoritarian.

Feedback, when given, often takes a confrontational tone, creating an environment of fear rather than constructive dialogue.

There are growing concerns about victimization, inequitable treatment, and favoritism, where certain staff members are given preferential treatment over others without clear justification.

Attempts to address these issues through internal channels have been met with resistance or indifference, leaving staff feeling unheard and powerless to effect change.

These highlighted systemic issues which need addressing have contributed to a pervasive sense of unease and dissatisfaction among the staff.

It is becoming increasingly challenging to maintain the high standards of professionalism and dedication that are the hallmarks of the Prime Minister’s Office under these circumstances.

Given the gravity of the situation and its potential impact on the functioning of our esteemed office, we are calling for urgent reassignment or restructuring measures to be taken against this official.

It is imperative that we foster a work environment where respect, professionalism, and a positive work culture are not just encouraged but exemplified by all, especially those in leadership positions.

Thank you for providing a platform for our voices, and may we continue to work together for the prosperity and unity of Antigua and Barbuda.

Sincerely,- Passionate supporter

 

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29 COMMENTS

  1. Dear Writer, this spells autocracy from top to bottom, and all around .Good luck in your quest for change. Me granny say plantain sucker fallaw de root.

  2. That sounds like ALL MINISTRIES. However I must go abit further to say politician to giving cabinet decisions to make to promote undeserving labour supporters.
    If you are such a strong supporter speak up and out with facts and I’m sure they will NOT victimize you like how they will victimize a UPP supporter.
    Anyway lately UPP supporters who switch seems to be advancing at a speedy rate than labour long standing supporters. Tan de and tek um, it what you voted for.

    • Yep, yep … yep!

      ABLP can do better until UPP tek over in 2028.

      🎶Daryl Matthew’s, Daryl Matthew’s, Hey, Hey, Hey … Daryl Matthew’s 🎶

      See it dey @ STFU, Brixtonian NEVER hides … NEVER!

      • @ Brixtonian: ” ABLP can do better until UPP tek over in 2028 “…… Well my comrade, you seem to have quite a long wait in reality before UPP take over in your dreams!!

  3. Maybe when the Prime Ministers office starts looking like you entered a Chinese run company, Antiguans will wake up.

  4. Lol 😂 this can’t be happening at the “White House” ? I mean I know that all the other Ministeries and other government entities and statutory agencies such as SIC has been the suffering this cold fate for the last 10 years. Moral is at it lowest level in the public sector, the infrastructure has gotten worse, the merchants and service providers to government has not been paid consistently in the past 10 years, except for a certain contractor and a few other pale face. Record revenue collected but no relief for the poor and vulnerable. Social services are deteriorating daily. We still wasting money dredging a habour with an excavator to enrich someone, and the LIAT fiasco continues. It is clearly time to abandon this sinking ship or force the captain to walk the plank before we throw him overboard!

    • This is what all u people wanted because we think the grass is green on this side of the fence.. Things that are affecting people, like the road I’m living on, for the last 10yrs now, the road was good before public works came and digged it up, leaving a trail of dust causing my lungs to go bad..

  5. Why is this letter addressed to ANR???? How can ANR and readers of this letter help you? Would this letter not serve your interest best by it being sent to the relevant authorities who can help?

    • @MAKE IT MAKE SENSE, The letter has already been to the relevant authorities. This is just to let the public know what is happening. They all work for us the public and we need transparency. No one can function in a hostile working environment.

  6. Yes public works security department, security officers are going through the same thing. But most of them are afraid to talk out.

  7. If this was authentically written by a member of staff, the office will know who us the author. If it’s true, someone did something or continues to do something to cause the acrimony to upset the morale in that office.

    We’re hearing one side of the argument, and I believe this was written by a third party who was given this information by who can’t have things her way.

    While managing people for over 34 years, I’ve noticed that there’s always one person on the team who tries to create a mountain out of a mole hill.
    We sensationalize everything in this country.

  8. ANR October 23, 2021
    WATCH: Spotlight China’s growing influence in Antigua and Barbuda. By Vaughn Hillyard

  9. Workers in the government system love dem own way and once structure and rules are enforced outside of the “unwritten” ones among coworkers, you are label wicked and unfair. Why aren’t you unfair to bring your kids to a work place and have them running wild, like it’s not a play pen. When officers want to come to work after 9/10/11 or in some cases 12, management much turn a blind eye? Then u the same ppl will say no order up there and management lacking. Simple work is work and home is home, same way when your child goes to school they have to follow rule same way we as big ppl go to work and have to follow rules, but guess what Antigua is a place that big ppl don’t want to be corrected or told what to do.

    • I totally agree with everything you have said. Some people do not like change. They are comfortable just coming to work every day twiddling their thumbs and getting paid at the end of the month. As you said, they want to come to work late every day and management must not say anything. Just let them do as they like. When you address the matter they are upset and call you vindictive. They are above spoken to and want to be their own boss. I am part of a management team in a Government Ministry and I can tell you that is how some junior staff behave. I am hated by some at my workplace for standing against chronic lateness and absenteeism. If the Government starts deducting from their salary every time they are absent or come to work late. You will hear another story.

      Fed up of the unproductive workers who are disrespectful of authority

    • Hundreds of Antiguans who had worked in the government system when they turned sixty or sixty-five migrated overseas. Most of them had found employment where they migrated too. They are working in different environments that have organization rules or department procedures that they follow. If they can easily adjust to the new working environment, why not here in Antigua and Barbuda? Our problem in Antigua is working for the government, we are too politically divided. We need to leave political party homes and don’t bring it into the workplace. That is why the country is stagnant, and tiny St Kitts and Nevis has passed us in economic development and operations.

      • @Mary-Ann. The country is stagnant because we keep voting in ABLP whose only use to is rape us incessantly. From that, all manner of evils and ills follow and will continue to flow. That political party problem you raised is encouraged and promoted by ABLP. It is how one gets a job and maintains a job. This is just the beginning, as our lives become harder and harder even as our politicians and families, and their cronies become richer and richer. Societal polarization is at our door folks! Let’s see if people continue to “like it so”.

  10. You all are all blinded gaston under pressure from what he sign us up to….we have no rights not even him have a say so is the whole carribbean government system….this is trouble this whole world never seen before….not even GASTON HAVE SAY UN WEF WHO ALL OF THESE COMPANIES PLUS MORE HE SIGN US UP TO BE GUINEA PIGS ONLY HELP WE HAVE IS IN JESUS ….TROUBLE THIS WORLD NEVER SEEN BEFORE MATTHEW 24….HE IS HAUNTED BY HIS DEMONS….THIS YEAR LACK DOWN AND THAT WILL STEAR US STRAIGHT INTO ETERNITY….GIVE YOUR LIVES TO GOD…OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS

    • @to whom it may concern: well even though you pointed out Gaston sign documents with the U.N and W.H.O and others, your final answer to this is the bible of the colonizers from our slave owner king James, which is copied but edited for slavery, the so call Jews and other nations not slaves don’t read that book. We must know god for our selves and not colonialism deity. That’s why other race have us sign documents as children of a lesser god.

  11. @To whom it may concern
    Before you get to Matthew 24, have you ever confronted you Minister, Bishop or priest and tell them look at God?
    No you have not. Because you are to be blinded by the fact that the religious organizations of Antigua and Barbuda are in bed with Gaston Browne and the ALBP.
    Open your eyes and stop being a hypocrite! and when I get to hell I’ll be seeing you at the door sitting on a little stool inviting me in, you hypocrite.
    Safe yourself from hell and ask your religious leader why does he and his cohorts kiss Gastons ring, while he or she takes your money every weekend.
    Hypocrites don’t go to heaven.

  12. @ Fed Up Senior Officer
    Have you ever observed a Chinese crew working? Its shoulders to the grindstone. Have you read the agreements the GOAB signed with the Peoples Republic of China.
    As the Chinese infiltrate, and they will for the Agreements enable them and give them the rights to do so.
    As Sam Cooke sang: A change is going to come. Our Chinese overlords will not allow what is being described. I’ m convinced of that. And when that time comes Gaston and Tricksy will be in another place.

  13. @Mary-Ann
    I fully agree with the fact that Antigua and Barbuda retirees migrate, and function differently than they did in Antigua and Barbuda all of their working lives.

    The local public working environment is part and parcel of the political culture. The individual who fostered this culture is known as The Rt, Honourable Sir …… He is a National Hero.

    There is no such person in Miami, Orlando, of Philadelphia where you get to work on time, and you do your job. If you don’t you are shown the door.
    What we have in Antigua and Barbuda are nepotism babies political incompetents, and hustlers. They can’t do so or be that way in New York, London or Toronto

  14. Dr Ray,
    As an owner manager with 34 years of experience, rather than question the authenticity. Offer some constructive criticism ideas of how this individual may be able to get changes in the office.
    You are a learned man, with management experience. I know you are politically bias but on a workplace issue I expect better of you.

  15. Oops! What sweet in goat sour in it bam bam, you rejoiced as a ALP member working at that office, in our political support we don’t have relational politics or a political ideology for our empowerment of the black natives of our country, we elect parties that are anti-black, which empower more white people in it’s term of office than ever before, putting out the ministers, but even Caucasian max Fernandez was empowered in the deluxe sale and purchase by our tax dollar, jeff Hadeed the owner of big banana is allowed to be the onliest restaurant in an international airport plus been made an ambassador to sell passports, if only hon Baldwin Spencer had return to office airport would have been theming with variety of local black restaurants, and am been objective that both party under the Westminster system design by our slave master is anti-black and only maintain poverty and empower the planters or global corporation, just check and see where you black self fit in, the ministers fit in as thieves looting to put on foreign banks making business better white countries, just check.

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