Public Officers, who are charged in criminal matters, are asked to proceed either on leave or on suspension. This past Sunday on the Issues at Hand program aired on WEFM, Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves was asked whether this applied to Senator Ashelle Morgan. Gonsalves went on to explain why it did not.
“If you look under the constitution, you have a security of tenure, P. John, as a public servant, and the constitution provides for special rules in respect of public servants but that very privilege you have as a security of tenure- for instance; if you look at all the fundamental rights and freedoms, you’d see that there is always something qualifying that in relation to public servants and then under that provision, particular regulations are made.
Ashelle Morgan is not a public servant in the way in which—she’ll hold the office of senator, but she doesn’t hold public office as a public servant.” Gonsalves said.
Senator Ashelle Morgan, on Friday, was arraigned on a charge of assault with intent to commit wounding. She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail and is scheduled to return to court on July 5th.
