Teacher Alwyn Babb will remain on half-pay leave until December 31, 2022.
This is according to correspondence from the Ministry of the Public Service dated October 5, 2022, informing him that his period of interdiction was being extended.
Meanwhile, colleague Pedro Shepherd, who contested the St Michael South East seat against then Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw, will remain interdicted for a further three months, but he will receive his full salary.
Babb, a teacher at The Lester Vaughan School, contested the 2022 General Election as the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St Peter, and was subsequently interdicted by the Ministry.
He was placed on half-pay from April 6 for six months, “pending the outcome of an enquiry” into “alleged misconduct”.
The hearing was held in June, but school resumed in September with no word of his status. Correspondence dated October 5, informed Babb that he had been “found guilty of the disciplinary charges” brought against him and under paragraph 6 (1) (a) of the Code of Discipline he would remain suspended for three more months.
He was advised he could appeal to the Privy Council within 14 days of receiving the letter, but if he did so, “may be suspended in accordance with Section 98 (1) of the Constitution and shall not be paid any of [his] emoluments in accordance with paragraph 7 (2).
All of this is set out in the Third Schedule of the Public Service Act, Cap. 29.
“If you do not apply within the stipulated time,” the letter continued, “it will be considered that you do not wish to have your case refereed to the Privy Council and the aforementioned penalty would take effect.”
According to the letter seen by Nation Online, Shepherd, whose case is yet to be heard, was previously on half-pay from April 6, 2022 until October 6. That period has now been extended until December 31.
Both Babb and Shepherd were defeated at the polls. (SAT)