Court rules against
Gracita Arrindell
~ Will not be reinstated in former function ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council is not compelled to reinstate People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell in her former function of deputy island secretary.
She filed a court case against the Executive Council on August 31, 2007, based on an August 2 decision of government not to reinstate her in her previous function.
The decision had to do with a change in the organisational structure of the island secretariat that eliminated the function in question.
Arrindell was an Island Council Member from 2003 till 2007 and was on leave of absence as a civil servant during that period.
She had been deputy island secretary since 1988 and had been seconded to the Bureau of Constitutional Affairs as fulltime advisor in 2001.
However, when her party lost its sole seat in the Island Council after the April 20 Island Council election, she had to return to the civil service. Arrindell demanded to return to her former position as deputy island secretary or another function with equivalent tasks and responsibilities.
The Executive Council, based on the fact that the function of deputy island secretary no longer existed, offered Arrindell the position of programme manager with the Bureau of Constitutional Affairs.
The administrative court decided in its May 9 ruling that Arrindell’s demand had no basis and that it could not have been foreseen that her old function would be eliminated.
Arrindell stated in a first reaction: “I was informed of the verdict of the administrative court this morning, May 13, concerning my case against the Executive Council involving my former position as a civil servant.
“In consultation with my lawyer, Maarten Le Poole, we will have a position on the court’s decision once we have had an opportunity to first carefully study the judge’s decision and its analysis.
“Thereafter, and only after a careful review of the decision, we will decide whether to appeal the case or take any other steps in this matter. Needless to say, we are disappointed, but yet hopeful that, in the end, our position will prevail in the justice system.
“It is also important to put this all behind us as soon as possible and move on with the people’s business.”
stressed.
