Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday stated that neither he nor President David Granger offered trade unionist Carvil Duncan monies in return for him resigning from several constitutional offices.
“The Office of the Minister of State categorically denies the assertion made by Carvil Duncan that he was offered monies by the Minister of State or the President,” a post on the Minister of State’s Facebook page said.
On Saturday, Duncan said that he was asked by President Granger in February to resign as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and from other constitutional commissions.
In a statement released to the press, Duncan said he was supposed to later confirm his agreement to resign to Harmon but had been unable to get in contact with him. A tribunal was recently appointed by Granger to determine whether Duncan should be removed as Chairman of the PSC.
According to Duncan’s statement, sometime in February, he received a telephone call from Harmon indicating his interest in a meeting the following Monday at the Ministry of the Presidency. He said that he subsequently met with Harmon, who said that he was instructed by Granger to have him resign as Chairman of the PSC as well as from the other constitutional commission—the Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission.
Duncan said that during that meeting, Harmon also requested that he consider a financial package that would accompany the resignation. “My answer to him was that I had preferred to speak with the President on this matter and I then exited his office,” he said.
According to Duncan, he received a telephone call from Harmon’s secretary later the same day and was requested to attend a meeting with the President at 11am that day. He said he went to the meeting with the President, who was accompanied by Harmon and an unknown individual.
According to Duncan, Granger, like Harmon, insisted that he resign as Chairman of the PSC and from the other constitutional service commissions. “He then said to me as much as three times, that `he does not want any blood on his carpet,’ forcing me to move in the direction of resigning by the deadline of March 15, 2016. The President offered me a financial package under the same conditions as had been offered by Minister Harmon if I were to resign as he insisted,” he added, while noting that he left the meeting with an understanding that he would return a call to Harmon confirming his agreement to resign.
However, Duncan said he was unable to contact Harmon despite several attempts.
The Ministry of the Presidency told Stabroek News on Saturday that with regards to the “blood on the carpet” comment referred to by Duncan, “it is an idiomatic expression suggesting that he would be forced to vacate the positions he holds through legal means if he does not leave voluntarily.” It was noted too that the meeting was a private one held in an attempt to afford Duncan “a graceful exit.”
Harmon yesterday gave government’s recount of the events.
“A meeting was held with Mr. Duncan during which he was invited to gracefully vacate the positions he currently holds on several commissions given that he is …on trial for allegedly stealing $984,000 from GPL and conspiring with another to steal $27M from the said entity.
“Mr. Carvil Duncan indicated that he would discuss the decision with his family and revert with a decision. The non-response of Mr. Duncan led the administration to go in the direction of a tribunal, appointed by President David Granger to enquire, investigate and recommend whether Mr. Carvil Duncan, Chairman and appointed member of the Public Service Commission ought to be removed from office for inability to discharge functions of the said office. The Tribunal will hear its first witness tomorrow October 10th 2016,” Harmon’s post said.