Dear Editor,
We are now witnessing an act which is equally abhorrent as the attempt to rig the 2020 Elections and the refusal to concede electoral defeat; this is, the refusal of former Director General of the Office of the Presidency to relinquish this political appointment, which was specially created to circumnavigate his dual citizenship.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s letter clearly informed Harmon that his “services are no longer required…it is no longer possible or practical for you to perform these tasks under the new Government”. In a nutshell, there no longer exists such a job description as the ‘Director General of the Office of the Presidency’; it has become redundant.
Harmon is fully aware that such a political appointment will cease automatically at the end of the life of the Government which appointed him. The fact that his contract extended beyond the life of his Government is itself a devious attempt to perpetrate another fraud on this nation, and to shamelessly rape the Treasury.
Harmon’s barefaced reply to the AG’s letter speaks volumes of his disdain for decency. He stated “…I do not respect your authority and your convoluted attempt to explain the arbitrary capricious action of a fraudulent Government to deny me of contractual benefits.” This is no surprise, since Harmon and his ilk never respected our Constitution and the Rule of Law.
The AG’s advice to him was to seek “sagacious counsel” which should persuade him that “contractual benefits” will only accrue “upon the breach of a subsisting, valid and enforceable contract”; but, in Harmon’s case, “there is no longer such a contract”. In addition, the AG unequivocally informed him that his “expectation is woefully misplaced”. It would be worthwhile to look at the facts surrounding Harmon’s appointment. His contract was signed on May 1, 2019, and was valid for three years, expiring on May 31, 2022. Firstly, as I have mentioned before, the position was specially created to circumvent the relinquishment of his dual citizenship. The salary and benefits he received under this new designation were more lucrative than what he had received in his former position as Minister of State, and afforded him the same power to wield.
Secondly, the Coalition was already aware that, with the NCM, there was a strong possibility that the appeal to the CCJ would see General Elections being held around September 2019.
Thirdly, even if the NCM appeal was unsuccessful, that Government’s tenure in office would have come to an end by latest August 2020, when General Elections would have been due.
Why would Harmon’s ‘contract’ come to an end in May 2022? Was Harmon so assured that the Coalition would be having a second term? It is legally correct to say that Harmon’s appointment did in fact come to an end when the PPP/C Government assumed office, and the Attorney General is legally correct, as usual.
In addition, there is the deceitful ploy to have some contracts not have “termination clauses”. It must be understood that even if there is no such clause, it is reasonable to expect that all political appointments must come to an end with a change in government. This can also be likened to a ‘force majeure’, whereby a major event such as a change in Government has occurred and such contracts must come to an end.
All the political appointees are knowledgeable that such an event will bring an end to their contracts, and to believe otherwise is just to ‘play de ass’ and try to eke a few dollars more from an already Coalition-raped-and- violated Treasury. Therefore, all such contracts can be terminated, and there is no need to give any notice, since such notices would have already been given as soon as Parliament is dissolved and an election date set.
Granger, please advise your political appointees and end this drama of shame and disgrace!
Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf
