Otto Sam receives more from judgement award

Otto Sam, who had won a wrongful dismissal case against the Public Service Board of Appeal (PSBA) in 2016, has received some more of the money awarded to him.

During a press conference yesterday, February 19, at the headquarters of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) at McKies Hill, Sam disclosed that he had been notified earlier that day that a cheque was ready for him.

“…This morning, the Treasury called to indicate that a cheque was ready, as it relates to part of the salary outstanding that was ordered by the court…things are happening and it’s not an Otto Sam victory; it’s a workers victory,” Sam declared.

In a decision delivered on December 12, 2016, Master Raulston Glasgow awarded damages as follows to Sam: 1. Annual duty allowance of $2,400; 2. Difference in salary $24,000; 3. Vindicatory award $30,000; 4. Prescribed cost $8,520; 5. Total award of $64,920 at 6 per cent per annum from December 12, 2016.

Sam said in relation to his dismissal, all of the payments should have been made as a lump sum, but Government went back to court for clarity in relation to the salaries, in terms of the timeline.

“So, the court told them okay, if you think you have something to clarify, pay the interdiction, the half-month salary from the interdiction (between August 7, 2012 and May 15, 2013). They did that. They came back seeking clarification for a ruling that is clear as crystal clear. The court didn’t tolerate it. They said to pay the salary…pay the salary as [if he]… never stopped working…We expect that the next amount would be paid in one,” Sam stated.

He did not reveal how much money he has received so far.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, Sam was relieved of his position as head teacher of the South Rivers Methodist School. He was also relieved of his assignment at the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO).

Before that, in August 2012, Sam was suspended with half pay, as a disciplinary inquiry was instituted against him, for the letters he wrote to local media, on July 24, 2012. He was at the time assigned to NEMO.

Sam had been transferred to NEMO on August 30, 2010 from the South Rivers Methodist School, where he was head teacher. At the time of his transfer, the former president of the SVGTU had been a teacher for 30 years.

Sam’s transfer to NEMO followed an unannounced visit made to the South Rivers Methodist School by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves on March 21, 2010. SEARCHLIGHT understands that during that visit, Gonsalves did not first report to the head teacher’s office, which is the policy of the Ministry of Education for all visitors to academic institutions.

Gonsalves is the parliamentary representative for North Central Windward, which includes South Rivers.

Following the visit of the Prime Minister to the school, Sam wrote to Gonsalves, pointing out the alleged flouting of the Ministry’s directive. The chief education officer, it is said, then asked Sam to apologize to the Prime Minister, which Sam refused to do. He was then transferred to NEMO.

On October 20, 2016, High Court Judge Esco Henry ruled that the PSBA’s decision to dismiss Sam was ‘illogical, unreasonable, unlawful, arrived at in an unfair and procedurally improper manner and disproportionate.’