CJIA moves to tackle sexual harassment in workplace

Despite being mum on the allegations of sexual harassment by one of its staff members, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has moved to tackle the issue of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday, the CJIA said the exercise, which commenced on Friday last, is in keeping with the commitment made by its board of directors.
At Friday’s meeting, the administration of the CJIA said its board of directors took steps to immediately tackle the workplace culture, to ensure that the CJIA, as a workplace, is safe for all, especially for women and other vulnerable social groups.
This decision came in the wake of public allegations of sexual misconduct taking place at the airport. The management team of the CJIA participated in the first consultation session with the two consultants who have been contracted to review all policies, protocols, regulations, and practices that govern conduct and engagements in the workplace, and to conduct workshops with the employees.
The CJIA board has retained the services of Social Work Educator and Behaviour Change Consultant Paulette Henry, and Human Resource Management Specialist Donna Tucker, the statement said.
“The board remains committed to making all necessary and recommended changes, to ensure that the workplace at CJIA is transformed, both for the safety of all employees and to reflect contemporary best,” the statement added.
The CJIA Board has said the interventions reflected its deep concern about the allegations of sexual misconduct recently published in the news media.
“The CJIA Board condemns any behaviour which creates an unsafe environment for staff, concessionaires, contractors, suppliers, and passengers using CJIA. The Board is fully committed to ensuring that the CJIA is a safe workplace for all, especially (for) women and other vulnerable social groups,” the board said in a statement last week.
As such, the Board has called for an immediate review of all policies, protocols, regulations, and practices that govern conduct and engagements in the workplace, and has taken steps to hire external consultants and specialists to conduct the reviews.
In addition, training will be provided for all persons who work at the Airport, including staff at all levels and persons working at the Airport on behalf of other agencies and companies.
“The Board wishes to assure the public that all allegations of improper conduct will be taken seriously, and there will be prompt investigation. The Board will ensure that there is follow-through on any investigations that are conducted, and any allegation that is found to be credible will result in the immediate appropriate action (being taken),” the entity noted.
Meanwhile, the CJIA Board expects to have the external human resources management and gender affairs consultants in place by month end.
It was reported that the sexual assault incident occurred in the office of the Deputy Chief Executive Officer on July 30, 2018 while the duty-free staff was in a meeting with him.
The victim claimed that she was hugged inappropriately, and kissed on her lips by the senior official. In her complaint letter tendered the day after the incident, which was seen by this newspaper, the woman explained that she went to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer to have an issue with her boss’s vehicle resolved.
Following the accusation, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer was sent on one week’s leave to facilitate an investigation.
A Police source confirmed that the official has been placed on $20,000 station bail as they continue to investigate the matter.