Fire Chief Kalamadeen Edoo was yesterday released on $10,000 bail after a private charge was filed against him by a firefighter, Neville Cumberbatch, accusing him of acting in a discriminatory manner by removing Cumberbatch’s name from a promotions list.
Edoo, was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus read the charge to him.
The charge states that Edoo, in his role as the statutory and general superintendent of the GFS, in or around June, 2021, to August, 2021, unlawfully discriminated against Cumberbatch by removing his name from a list of persons deemed eligible for consideration for promotion by former Chief Fire Chief Marlon Gentle on January 29, 2021, on the basis of disciplinary infractions, whilst retaining on the same list persons who were guilty of equal and more egregious disciplinary infractions contrary to the provisions of Section 5. (2). (d) of the Prevention of Discrimination Act.
Edoo, who was not required to plead to the charge, was represented by attorney Sase Gunraj, who in an application for bail noted that Edoo has served in the fire service for over 20 years and has never been charged with any other offences or any similar in nature. He stated that the charge is misconceived and hence asked that Edoo be released on his own recognizance.
Edoo was released on $10,000 bail and the matter was adjourned until October 11.
Stabroek News recently reported that several officers have objected to being removed from a preferment list due to alleged “disciplinary infractions” for which they were punished years earlier.
The charge was filed after around half of the 30 men and women who were removed from the list, instructed their attorney, Eusi Anderson, to write to Edoo directing that he issue to the Minister of Home Affairs the list of all officers who have passed the necessary examinations and are therefore eligible for promotions or face a “constitutional action for discrimination”.
However Edoo has denied this claim and told this newspaper that nobody was removed from the list and that there had been no promotions. Edoo also said that he was not in receipt of the lawyer’s letter.
Stabroek News understands that vacancies within the service are filled on an “as needed” basis, with those eligible being required to undertake written, oral and practical examinations. Once officers have passed these examinations, promotions proceed based on seniority.
Late last year, vacancies at new fire stations at Lethem, Mahdia, Mabaruma, Melanie Damishana and the fireboat service, opened and examinations were conducted in December, 2020. Following the examinations, the panel led by then Deputy Chief Fire Officer Edoo submitted the results to Fire Chief Gentle, who prepared and circulated on January 29, 2021 the results of sub-officers, section leaders and leading firemen. This list has been seen by Stabroek News.
On July 29, the Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, writing on behalf of Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas, advised Edoo that a decision had been taken to have the promotions list “revised,” omitting an attached list of named persons. The reason given in the memo seen by this newspaper, was correspondence received on July 22 related to “disciplinary infractions against persons eligible for promotion.” Notably some of the officers on the list have served for in excess of 20 years and according to their lawyer’s letter do not have active infractions. In fact, it says the infractions have already been heard, determined and disciplinary action instituted.
