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Dear Sir,

Stuart Hayward's got some crust saying that LeYoni Junos' reputation has been attacked and sullied after her recent court case.

At every opportunity he "attacks and sullies the reputation" of the Premier and those of us who support him. He has accused the Premier of being dictatorial, self-serving and used several other adjectives to attack and sully the Premier's reputation.

On each occasion that Mr. Hayward writes a column, or presents a petition to the Government, he has gone for the jugular.

According to a [Royal Gazette] article published on April 25, 2009, Ms Junos was "approached to become director of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Foundation". Am I the only one to see something wrong with this picture? If Ms Junos was a civil servant, how could she be "approached to become director"? I thought civil service positions were advertised, applications were made by interested parties, and the best person for the position hired.

The same article states that Ms Junos envisaged a long and happy career working in a field she is passionate about. Those of us who know Ms Junos can attest to the fact that she is indeed passionate about the history of Africans who were transported to the 'New World', hence her work on Bermuda's slave register(s). Even the Premier, whom Ms Junos accused of ministerial interference in this case, was aware of Ms Junos' passion and believed that her research was important to the country. When Ms Junos was employed as a bus operator and the Premier, in his capacity as Minister of Transport, was made aware that she requested a leave of absence to further research the slave registers at the Archives, the Premier not only agreed that she should have the time off to pursue her passion, he also supported the decision that she could continue to be paid a salary as a bus operator. Strangely, Ms Junos has chosen not to share this information with the public as she shared it with me. Those who doubt me can confirm this fact with the Premier, Ms Junos and the Public Transportation Board.

Contrary to Mr. Hayward's assertions, Judge Ian Kawaley has ruled: "The applicant's suggestions that she was the victim of political interference by the minister or terminated on covert but unjustified disciplinary or other punitive grounds because she was, in effect, a whistle-blower, are not made out by the affidavits in any event."

He also said: "In fairness to Henderson, the service-provider which has been much mentioned, there is no basis for any suggestion that the website inaccuracies they were criticised for were motivated by anything more than excessive enthusiasm to start raising funds for the foundation."

Stuart Hayward contends that Ms Junos "deserves praise and a medal, not intimidation and smear tactics. The government and PLP horn-blowers ought to be ashamed of their attempts to smear and demonise this patriotic citizen, who is a heroine and not a villain".

I don't believe that Ms Junos is either a heroine or a villain. I believe that she is, just like the rest of us - including the Premier - an imperfect being.

LaVerne Furbert[[In-content Ad]]

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