A JAMAICAN woman, who was fired this week from her job at the United States Embassy in Kingston, after working there for 21 years, is seeking the intervention of the Ministry of Labour to get her severance pay.
Claudette Boyd, who was employed as a Human Resources specialist, told The Gleaner Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong and was not given any definitive reason why she was fired.
"My dismissal is really an injustice to me after giving dedicated service there for 21 years," Mrs. Boyd said.
When contacted, an embassy spokesperson said the embassy would not speak on personnel issues.
DISMISSED
Mrs. Boyd disclosed that, on Monday, she received a letter from Steven J. Valdez, management counsellor, informing her that she was being "separated immediately by disqualification". The letter stated that "as this is a security matter, in accordance with the Foreign Service National Employee United States Government Agencies Handbook, May 2001, there is no appeal for this separation action which will be processed effective May 22, 2006."
She was informed in the letter that she should make an appointment for determination of her final pay. She was advised that, because it was a termination for cause, she would not be entitled to a severance payment.
According to Mrs. Boyd, when she was leaving the embassy her handbag was searched by a security officer and an email which she had sent to Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State, removed. She then asked if she was being fired because of the email, but she got no response.
EMAIL TO COLIN POWELL
She said she had sent an email on May 7 to Mr. Powell asking him to use his influence to initiate an unbiased investigation into the dismissal of her son, who was employed to the embassy here, as a visa clerk. He was reportedly fired after being accused of visa fraud.
Mrs. Boyd disclosed that, when her son's numerous requests for some proof of his alleged involvement were denied, she sent an email to Mr. Powell. She said the email was not sent from the Embassy and described the email as a 'mother's call for justice'.
