THE BETTING, Gaming and Lotteries Commission has been barred by a Supreme Court order from filling the post of legal officer, which Charles Ganga-Singh held up to when he was fired on November 25.
Mrs. Justice Norma McIntosh granted the injunction on Monday, when she granted Ganga-Singh leave to take the issue to the Judicial Review Court. Ganga-Singh, who is being represented by attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, will be applying to the Judicial Review Court for an order to quash the Commission's decision to fire him.
The injunction is to remain in force until the Judicial Review Court determines the issue.
Ganga-Singh is alleging that the Commission committed a breach of natural justice when it fired him. He says he has not committed any breaches or any professional misconduct.
The commission said it fired Hall because of "irreconcilable" loss of confidence in his ability to perform his duties.
Ganga-Singh was the second officer to be fired by the Commission within the last three months.
Patrick Hall, the chief accountant, was fired in August this year after he failed to attend an investigative meeting on August 28. He took his case to the Judicial Review Court and lost.
Hall was dismissed after investigations by the Audit Committee of the board revealed that a yearly incentive was paid to Hall and the workers without deducting the taxes and statutory deductions prescribed by the tax laws. The Commission said Hall's failure to make the deductions resulted in it having to pay out a total of $14 million in taxes, penalties and interest.
Ganga-Singh's dismissal letter of November 25 states in part "the Commissioners found unconvincing, your explanation for providing simultaneoulsy to the Commissioners and Mr. Patrick Hall, your opinion on the injunction filed on behalf of Mr. Hall against the Commission." The letter stated that it found as "unacceptable" Mr. Ganga-Singh's explanations for withdrawing charges of illegal bookmaking and unlawful gaming in a case in Montego Bay.
The Board concluded that there was "an irreconcilable loss of trust and confidence" his ability to perform his duties and voted to terminate his services effective November 25, 2002.
