The St Vincent High Court has quashed the appointments of Deborah Charles as Clerk and Simone Williams-Huggins as Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly, finding the appointments illegal and procedurally flawed.
The court’s decision came after Celena McDonald challenged the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) appointment process. The court determined that the PSC acted unlawfully and unfairly, particularly in bypassing McDonald for the deputy clerk position.
The judgment specifically highlighted that the appointments made by the former ULP government did not follow proper administrative protocols. By not publicly advertising the positions, the PSC undermined fair competition and potential candidate opportunities.
Key findings of the court ruling include:
- Violation of Regulation 19 of PSC Regulations regarding selection and promotion principles
- Failure to advertise the vacant positions, breaching Regulation 18
- Lack of transparency in the appointment process