The Tribune

CIVIL servants in North Eleuthera say a “threatening atmosphere” has descended over the constituency since the appointment of a new island administrator by the PLP government.

The Tribune spoke to several government employees stationed in various communities and attached to different departments, who all said the actions of Jolton Johnson have caused widespread fears that a campaign of victimisation is about to be launched.

The sources are all known FNM supporters, who say they have been subjected to threats and intimidation as a result of their political affiliation.

A source in Harbour Island said: “Mr Johnson told a public meeting he came there with a mandate. He has already suspended one civil servant without proper authorisation. He said he is hear to ‘clean up’.

“We are concerned that he is overstepping his authority; the island administrator’s role is to ensure that things run smoothly, not remove people and change how things work.”

Many said they are also uncomfortable with the fact that Mr Johnson has taken to wearing his handgun in public.

“The firearm is attached to his office, just in case, but previous administrators have always kept it in the safe,” one source said.

The North Eleutherans, who spoke to The Tribune on condition of anonymity, said while no one has lost their job to date, civil servants and individuals on government contracts have been pressured into working outside the terms of their employment – usually to the advantage of community members affiliated with the PLP.

One civil servant in Hatchet Bay said Mr Johnson has come to his office several times to “keep an eye on him” and has made comments to staff suggesting “my job is at risk.”

According to a source in the community of Lower Bogue, many people who work for the government and happen to be FNMs, feel intimidated and are afraid their livelihood is under threat.

However, she said, they refuse to be victimised and are “ready to resist.”

In Harbour Island, sources said that in addition to suspending a civil servant without proper cause or the authority to do so, Mr Johnson has tried to pressure a number of individuals to work for the benefit of PLPs.

Several mentioned the case of Rick Mackey, who has a contract from the central government to manage the local garbage dump.

They claim he was called into a meeting by the administrator, who, in the presence of several garbage collectors known to support the governing party, ordered Mr Mackey to let them dump trash at their leisure – contrary to the terms of his contract.

One source said: “He was trying to tell Mackey what to do with his equipment, to put it at the service of these people, but he abides by the terms of his contract. So apparently Mr Johnson contacted the officials in charge of the contract in Nassau – he wanted them to make a political decision to deal with Mackey.”

Mr Mackey was contacted, but said he did not wish to comment.

There have also been claims that since Mr Johnson’s appointment, former local officials who are PLP supporters are seen driving around Harbour Island using official cars, and that some officers have taken to using public funds to pay bills at Mario’s Liquor Store, though the new administrator was not said to be among them.

When contacted for comment on the allegations, Mr Johnson at first denied them all, seeming surprised that anyone would be upset about him carrying a gun. Then, he refused to comment further and directed all further questions to “my minister.”

Local Government Minister V Alfred Gray yesterday said he could not comment as he knew of no complaints against Mr Johnson.

Mr Gray added: “If he makes a decision in the interest of the government, we will support him.”

In reference to the claims that Mr Johnson suspended someone without cause – who was later reinstated by the director of the relevant department in Nassau – the minister said: “As long as he was right, we will support him.”

Mr Gray said anyone who has a complaint about Mr Johnson or anyone else in local government should lodge an official complaint.

As far as the gun is concerned, Mr Gray said: “The administrator is always on duty – he has the right, as long as he doesn’t brandish it or show off.

“Some of these people who claim to be aggrieved might be threatening him, but he has no right to use it wrongly.”

Mr Gray said he could not commit to looking into the complaints until an official complaint has been lodged.

The minister pointed out that as the local administrator, Mr Johnson is in fact a representative of the central government.

But according to former Speaker of the House of Assembly and FNM North Eleuthera representative Alvin Smith, Mr Johnson has no authority to remove civil servants without permission from Nassau.

Claiming he too has heard Mr Johnson has threatened “all these persons who he has heard campaigned for the FNM,” Mr Smith said: “No, he doesn’t have that authority. He can deal with temporary workers, but he must get a directive from the particular government department or office to fire anyone.

“He is only the administrator, but he acts as though he is the minister for the whole island.”

According to Mr Smith, the administrator has taken to raising claims about certain civil servants at meetings of heads of department, in an effort to “belittle public officers.”

“He says he’s carrying out the wishes of the government, so it seems they want this,” Mr Smith added.