~ Claims former staffer had access to his mobile phone ~
PHILIPSBURG–Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson on Sunday evening broke his three-month silence on allegations that he had sexually harassed his former temporary cabinet worker Fernando Thomas.
He said he had not sexually harassed Thomas, whom he did not identify by name in a press release issued on the matter late last night.
Johnson came under fire for dismissing Thomas after the worker allegedly rebuffed his sexual advances in October last year. Johnson said he had given his government cellular phone to the former cabinet worker.
“While he was an executive assistant, the accuser had unrestricted access to the Minister’s government mobile phone, which he used to take photos, answer calls, and respond to texts when the minister was unavoidably away from his phone for meetings or any related work event,” Johnson said in the release.
“It appears that during the first stage of his trip the former temporary cabinet worker spent the money he received from the Government to pay for his accommodations abroad and for meals at a casino. He subsequently left his outstanding hotel accommodation debts on the trip to the tune of over 1,000 euros, which is unpaid to date.
“When he could not generate sufficient funds to remain in the Netherlands, the former cabinet worker was forced to return home, at which point the text messages surfaced. He appears to have taken advantage of his access to the Minister’s cellular phones and betrayed the trust of his employer in an attempt to paint a negative image transpired in the Netherlands.”
Johnson said that after the former staffer returned to the island, he had failed to return to work at the cabinet despite several attempts by cabinet workers to encourage him to return.
“It was first felt that he was venting frustration at the delay in formalising his appointment to the Cabinet. He was informed that this was a matter that had to be handled through the approval of the Justice Minister and took time, as consideration also had to be given to the transfer by the [Police Force – Ed.] KPSM.”
Johnson said he had concluded based on the failure of the former cabinet worker to “show up” for work that the former cabinet worker had no such intention. “The natural conclusion was that he no longer had an interest in working in the cabinet and, as such, he was sent a formal letter of dismissal.”
The former cabinet worker has by now returned to KPSM. The balance of his payment is being held, as Minister Johnson said the former cabinet worker is actually still being paid as a police officer by the KPSM.
On the subject of outstanding payment from the cabinet, Johnson said, “The difference has to be calculated from the balance of the business trip which the former cabinet worker attended and did not complete.”
He says he will not allow a former employee of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau turned politician to force him into a mudslinging contest over rhetoric spewed by individuals with an axe to grind over his decision not to use taxpayers’ money to finance their comedy show.
“At no time did I sexually harass anyone, much less the former temporary cabinet worker, contrary to the claim, though not direct, but seemingly orchestrated by others with personal agendas,” Johnson said. “As an educator of 10 years with an impeccable record of service, I had first to consider what a media debate on this subject could do to our already fragmented society, and I felt it a responsible approach to let a transparent investigation take place before I make any further statements.”
Johnson had filed a complaint with the local police and Prosecutor’s Office when he learnt that text messages were circulating containing lewd comments and sexually explicit and what he described as “doctored photos” suggesting he had propositioned his former staffer while they were on a working visit to the Netherlands. The Prosecutor’s Office has issued a letter since then in which it stated that the complaint had been dismissed and there was no further investigation.
Johnson said that while the photos and allegations were maliciously concocted, he understands that as a public servant the topic of abuse of power and sexual misconduct in the workplace is sensitive and “touches a core problem of abuse of powers that many people, especially women, in our community endure daily.
“As such, I first wanted to ensure that the authorities did their investigation, which shows I have done none of the things I was accused of doing and, as such, the investigation was closed.”
The release said that Johnson believed it was now the right time to disclose the details surrounding the dismissal of the former cabinet worker, especially considering that “members of certain organisations were attempting to score political points awaiting my final statement on the subject.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84796-johnson-denies-sexually-harassing-former-staffer
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