Prison officers claiming defamation of character against Govt authorities
Article by January 12, 2021
Three prison officers are in the process of filing two separate lawsuits against the Government of Barbados over COVID-19 related issues.
Industrial Relations Advisor to the Prison Officers Association of Barbados (POAB) and trade union leader Senator Caswell Franklyn disclosed today that the first action is one of defamation of character against the men whom Government officials had publicly said could not be found for testing for the virus.
On New Year’s Day, Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs Wilfred Abrahams made a call during a ‘live’ television and radio broadcast for the three to come forward for testing and urged anyone who knew of their whereabouts to encourage them to do so.
Opposition Leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded that justice must prevail for citizens who were subjected to defective condoms and gloves supplied by honeybee pharmacy which he says is a crime against humanity.
Mr Hichilema is concerned that just like many other injustices that Zambians have been subjected to, nothing will be done to the known perpetrators of this crime against humanity.
He says he understands the public anger in reaction to the stench of alleged corruption coming from the ministry of health which awarded honeybee the contract to supply drugs, surgical gloves and other lifesaving items, authorized these for use and consumption, despite failing quality control tests.
Zanu-PF has dismissed claims in sections of the South African media that Zimbabwean authorities are responsible for the congestion at Beitbridge Border Post, saying some media personnel appear to be doing the bidding of exiled former party members who are bent on tarnishing the image of the country and its leadership.
Director for Information and Publicity Tafadzwa Mugwadi was yesterday involved in a social media spat with SABC foreign editor Sophie Mokoena, whom he accused of creating fake and negative stories to tarnish the image of the country.
Ms Mokoena blamed the Zimbabwean Government for high volume of people crossing the border, describing the movement of people as a crisis. Mugwadi said Beitbridge Border Post was shared by two countries which were both responsible for the movement of people.