while after sexual harassment, enduring further harassment and victimisation
She was still serving on probation as a prison officer when about two years ago in June 2015 she filed sexual harassment complaints with the Governor against the top officials of HM Prison where she worked in Brades.
Today, after enduring further harassment and victimization; enquiries as to her status as she continued to receive a salary, no information as to disciplinary charges brought against her, ridicule of the police for bringing her before the judge on charges that should have not passed reported stage, she is finally still in the employ of GoM she reports, as a senior clerical officer in the Ministry of Housing beginning just about two weeks ago.
TMR has been following this story since it broke in October 2015 particularly the reports of victimization that was meted out to this harassed female prison officer. Six weeks ago, follow-up enquiries as to the outcome of the case to include disciplinary charges brought against the victim related to her complaint, which earlier had been the delay in action on the matter after it had been fully investigated, with outside assistance, we received the following response. “There was a consequence which will be reported on in due course.”
Further inquiries informed that the accused junior official had been placed back on the job while the top official was transferred, supposedly on demotion to head the mental home in Sweeneys. Although being finally placed back to work the young woman reports that she has not been advised as to the outcome of her complaints or the disciplinary charges that were brought against her.
Meantime, complaining that she has received no assistance from women organisation who claim their existence to help abused women, suffering much stress, she has endured arrests and charges brought against her in the High Court which brought ridicule from the judge against the police and her filing civil claims against them.
On October 30, 2015, The Montserrat Reporter (TMR) carried under the story caption, “Top prison officers suspended for allegations of bullying and sexual harassment.
The story evolved out of information and investigations into an article by Claude Gerald, “Her Majesty’s Prison Montserrat: A home of sexual pervasion?”, published a week less three months earlier which said: “If it can be verified that female officers, married or otherwise, lose resistance on disproportionate night duty assignments and succumb to ravenous sexual aggression by male seniority – for fear of losing their jobs;…”
The matter arose in June 2015 the Governor’s office and the Royal Montserrat Police Service (RMPS), “received a complaint from a female member of the prison staff of victimisation, bullying and sexual harassment at HM Prison.
At the beginning of investigation taking place, two top prison officers were reportedly suspended. The complainant was sent off work on Administrative Leave. We learnt that the matter had already been passed on to the Director of Prosecution’s office for further processing. The female complainant who when making the complaint was still on probation and not yet confirmed in her job. Meantime she complained of having been the victim of subtle and other forms of harassment and embarrassment.
As the investigation continues, further information confirms that the “Deputy Governor and the Governor’s office are taking action on other aspects of the complaint.”
According to information from official sources the investigation continued, with the RMPS leading, following others into “a specific allegation”. Our continuing inquiries in the matter especially where the complainant was as part of the harassment she received, was charged with misconduct in accordance with Para 110 (1) (ab) of the Code of Conduct for Prison Officers, set out in the Schedule to the Prison Rules (CAP 10.04).
The Charge read, “You Miss xxxx, While on probation as a Prison Officer, behaved in a manner and engaged in conduct to the prejudice of good order at Her Majesty’s Prison, in that you engaged in inappropriate communication of a sexual nature with the Superintendent of Prison during work hours.”
In support of the charge, the accompanying documents were supplied with the Notice: WhatsApp Chat with xxxx (the top official) and Performance Report (Prison Officer – xxxx dated April 05, 2016.
Asked again if she received encouragement, sympathy, assistance or protection from the proponents of ‘ending violence against women, the response ‘was none at all’.
Once again, the question is asked: “How much and what protection or support are provided when allegations and charges are brought by women who face these circumstances.”
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https://www.themontserratreporter.com/her-majestys-prison-montserrat-a-home-of-sexual-pervasion/
