BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PRIME MINISTER Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris has informed that based on his knowledge, Juni Hodge is still the Superintendent of Prisons and is currently on vacation.
That announcement came at his monthly press conference yesterday (Nov. 29), where he was asked by a reporter to address the issue, as Hodge took to mainstream media to disclose that his service was terminated.
“As far as I am aware, he is still the Superintendent of the Prisons,” Dr. Harris said. “Of course, he has applied for and is on vacation leave. I can’t comment on any other matter in relation to him at this particular moment in time.
“I think he had said previously, nonetheless, to a media house and so I can’t comment any further with respect to that matter. I am not sure what prompted that. That is the situation.”
Contacted yesterday (Nov. 29), Hodge told SKNVibes News that he recently met with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, who informed him that his services would no longer be needed on completion of his vacation.
“As it stands, I am still the Superintendent, but I met with Mr. Petty on Friday, last, and he told me he was told to inform me, or he was advised to inform me, that when my vacation expires I must not return to the prison.”
That vacation period is slated to end on Thursday, December 7, at which time he is expected to be back at his desk at Her Majesty’s Prison.
Hodge indicated to this media house that he did not receive any formal notice of his impending termination from the Permanent Secretary.
“I am waiting for that then I can do what I have to do,” the embattled Superintendent stated.
PM Harris emphasized that “he is on leave and we would see what would happen thereafter”.
This media house had questioned Hodge about an official reason for his claim of termination, to which he stated that there was none, instead stating that “some of the senior officers made some allegations against me, one of which stated that they and I are untenable. So, as a result of that, he (the PS) was advised to inform me that I should not return to the prisons”.
“But what I find rather alarming, is that if someone is in charge and a junior rank feels that he has a scene about the person - that is an institution where rank matters - and the rank must be respected, irrespective of how you feel about the person. But I would say there is more to it.”
